Compare towns
Pomfret vs Athol 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
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
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 | Pomfret | Athol | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,317Lowest |
12,011Highest |
4,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±3.3 12% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bolton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bolton and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$126,364±$19kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$367,600±$17k 10% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,127±$55Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903 89% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$8,091Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Pomfret 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Pomfret School District | Athol-Royalston | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.