Compare towns
Dover vs Thompson vs Killingly vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Bolton has the most people working from home (40.5%).
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 | Dover | Thompson | Killingly | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31k 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.9Lowest |
11.1 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.