Compare towns
Salem vs Killingly vs Sterling 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 expensive homes ($404k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Killingly | Sterling | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
4,853 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% 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% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Sterling 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% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,127±$55 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Bolton 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%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 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 | Sterling School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Bolton High School |
| 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.