Compare towns
Bolton vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most people working from home (40.5%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Killingly | Lancaster | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,606 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.