Compare towns
Salem vs Suffield vs Plainville 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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Suffield | Plainville | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
15,702 |
17,551Highest |
4,853 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
43.7±3.3 6% above CT |
| Suffield and Plainville 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% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bolton and Plainville 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% 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±$33k 10% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Suffield and Salem 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
| Salem and Suffield 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%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 |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Suffield School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Plainville High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
11.4Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.