Compare towns
Bolton vs Suffield vs Brooklyn vs Salem
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%).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Brooklyn | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,853 |
15,702Highest |
8,517 |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Brooklyn 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$96,207±$15kLowest about the CT average |
$123,245±$8k 29% 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±$17k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$315,200±$28kLowest 14% below CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% 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±$55 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Suffield School District | Brooklyn School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.