Compare towns
Bolton vs Redding vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most kids (20% under 18).
Redding has the most expensive homes ($706k median).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bolton | Redding | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
8,780 |
36,759Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +19% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
37.3±2Lowest 9% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Redding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Redding and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
31.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$74,267±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17k about the CT average |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$223,400±$5kLowest 39% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,384±$66 7% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091 22% above CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,903Lowest 26% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
4%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
9.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | — |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Joel Barlow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.