Compare towns
Bolton vs Union vs Manchester
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%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Manchester has the most renters (44.1% 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 | Union | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853 |
944Lowest |
36,759Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +19% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37.3±2Lowest 9% below CT |
| Union and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.2%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
31.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$74,267±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$223,400±$5kLowest 39% below CT |
| Bolton and Union 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 |
— | $1,384±$66Highest 7% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$4,903 26% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
12.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
55.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9.9%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 149 in CT | — | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Union School District | — |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4 |
— | — |
| 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.