Compare towns
Marlborough vs Prospect vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Marlborough | Prospect | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,130 |
9,458Highest |
4,853Lowest |
| Median age | 41.8±4.7Lowest about the CT average |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Prospect and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
$126,364±$19kLowest 32% above CT |
| Marlborough and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,100±$33kHighest 3% above CT |
$355,400±$21kLowest 3% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Marlborough and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$438 10% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Prospect and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,397 11% above CT |
$6,504Lowest about the CT average |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Marlborough and Bolton 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 | #52 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Marlborough School District | Regional School District 16 | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
| 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.