Compare towns

Salem vs Killingly vs Bolton vs Bozrah

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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
Bozrah has the oldest population (median age 46.4).

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.

MeasureSalemKillinglyBoltonBozrah
People
Population
4,282
17,867Highest
4,853
2,293Lowest
Median age
40.9±5.4
about the CT average
39.5±3Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±3.3
6% above CT
46.4±7.4Highest
13% above CT
Bozrah 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%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
20%±3.6
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5
CT: 20.2%
Salem and Bozrah 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%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±3.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
21.8%±3.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
Bozrah 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%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
51.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
32.3%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
7.7%±2.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
1.9%±1.1Lowest
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
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$126,364±$19kHighest
32% above CT
$108,516±$11k
13% 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
$288,600±$15kLowest
21% below CT
$367,600±$17k
about the CT average
$311,200±$26k
15% below CT
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
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,127±$55
24% below CT
$1,426±$108
4% below CT
Salem and Bozrah 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
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$8,091Highest
22% above CT
$4,438
33% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.1%±26Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
39.8%±30.8
CT: 52.6%
47.2%±12.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Bozrah and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.4%
CT: 10%
7.2%
CT: 10%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
88%Highest
CT: 66.5%
87.4%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
1969
2 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
19% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
25 minLowest
6% below CT
29 min
8% above CT
Work from home
18%±9.6
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
20.7%±4.6Highest
CT: 16%
7.5%±3.6Lowest
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 #136 of 149 in CT #79 of 149 in CT —
School district Salem School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Bolton School District Bozrah School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Bolton High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
7.4Lowest
—
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.