What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has the most kids (20% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bolton	Thompson
People
Population	4,853Lowest	9,337Highest
Median age	43.7±3.3Lowest 6% above CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	19.7%±3.4Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
	Thompson 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT	$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average
	Bolton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average	$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,127±$55Highest 24% below CT	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
	Bolton and Thompson 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	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below CT	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16%
	Bolton and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Bolton School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Bolton High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.4Lowest	7.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.