Compare towns
Bolton vs Willimantic 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 homeowners (88%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Manchester has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Willimantic | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853Lowest |
18,096 |
59,635Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 | — | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | — | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.