Compare towns
Salem vs Ashford vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Ashford has the most renters (23.2% rent).
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 | Salem | Ashford | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
4,226Lowest |
4,853Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$121,926±$23kLowest 27% above CT |
$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
| Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Lowest about the CT average |
$6,982 5% above CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Ashford School District | 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.