Compare towns
Salem vs Chaplin 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).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Chaplin | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
2,070Lowest |
4,853Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bolton 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 |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$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 |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% 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±$150 3% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bolton and Chaplin 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% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Chaplin 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 | — | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.