Compare towns
Bolton vs Salem vs Vernon
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).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853 |
4,282Lowest |
30,577Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
| Bolton and Salem 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% |
16.9%±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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
38%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon and Bolton 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 |
$85,356±$6kLowest 11% below 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±$17k about the CT average |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
| Salem and Bolton 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 |
$1,425±$77 4% below CT |
| Salem and Vernon 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 |
$5,804Lowest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bolton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Salem 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 | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Salem School District | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | None in town | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.