Compare towns
Bolton vs Thompson vs Middlebury
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%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Thompson | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
9,337Highest |
7,807 |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
44.4±2.3 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22%±3.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Middlebury and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
22.7%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Middlebury 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±2.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Middlebury 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$133,487±$26kHighest 39% above CT |
| Middlebury and Bolton 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$476,400±$23kHighest 30% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55Highest 24% below CT |
$1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$398±$387Lowest 73% 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 | $8,091 22% above CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$8,434Highest 27% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
12.7%±6.9Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.3%±3.2 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Middlebury 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 | #55 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Thompson School District | Regional School District 15 |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
7.9Highest |
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| 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.