What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colchester has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Colchester	Bolton
People
Population	17,648Highest	1,163Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±1.4Highest 9% below VT	36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT
	Colchester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9%	14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Colchester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%	6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	58.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7%	2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,891±$9kLowest 21% above VT	$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT
	Bolton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT	$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT	$1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT
	Colchester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,471Highest 9% above VT	$4,826Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4%	28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Colchester and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	81.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 15% below VT	28 minHighest 17% above VT
Work from home	19%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bolton and Colchester 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	#18 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Colchester School District	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	Colchester High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT 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.