Compare towns
Salem vs Mansfield 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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Bolton has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
25,358Highest |
4,853 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below 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 |
$335,400±$20kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Mansfield 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 |
$5,727Lowest 14% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield 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% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Bolton 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
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.