Compare towns
Salem vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Salem | Hampton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
1,647Lowest |
4,853Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Hampton and Bolton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton 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% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$109,167±$19kLowest 14% 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 |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Salem and Hampton 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton 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 | — | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Hampton 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.