Compare towns
Bolton vs Salem vs Suffield
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 people working from home (20.7%).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Salem | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853 |
4,282Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17kLowest about the CT average |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Suffield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Salem School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.