What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartland has the most people working from home (22%).

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.

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

Measure	Hartland	Salem
People
Population	1,840Lowest	4,282Highest
Median age	48.8±4.9Highest 19% above CT	40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average
	Hartland and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2%	23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2%
	Salem and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5%	19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Hartland and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	50.6%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1%
	Salem and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,375±$13kLowest 18% above CT	$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT
	Salem and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$350,700±$21kLowest 4% below CT	$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT
	Salem and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,819±$478Highest 22% above CT	$1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT
	Hartland and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,633Lowest 15% below CT	$6,668Highest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±54.9Lowest CT: 52.6%	32.1%±26Highest CT: 52.6%
	Salem and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest CT: 10%	6.2%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT	1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above CT	32 minLowest 19% above CT
Work from home	22%±4.6Highest CT: 16%	18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Hartland 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	—	#11 of 149 in CT
School district	Hartland School District	Salem School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.