Compare towns
Bolton vs Wolcott 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Wolcott | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,853 |
16,279Highest |
4,282Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
44.4±2.5Highest 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Wolcott and Bolton 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% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
37%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$110,850±$10kLowest 16% above CT |
$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 |
$326,200±$17kLowest 11% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Salem and Bolton 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 |
$1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Wolcott and Salem 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 |
$5,799Lowest 13% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Wolcott 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% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Salem 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bolton School District | Wolcott School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Bolton High School | Wolcott High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
10.1Highest |
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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.