Compare towns
Salem vs Bethany vs Windsor Locks vs Marlborough
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Bethany | Windsor Locks | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
5,288 |
12,579Highest |
6,130 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
42.5±2.9Highest 3% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
41.8±4.7 about the CT average |
| Bethany and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Salem 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% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Windsor Locks 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 |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$142,105±$35k 48% above CT |
| Bethany and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Bethany and Salem 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 |
— | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,333±$438Lowest 10% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,397 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
9.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Windsor Locks School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.