Compare towns
Salem vs Sutton vs Plainfield vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bolton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sutton | Plainfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
9,452 |
15,141Highest |
4,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.7±3.3 12% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$126,364±$19k 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$367,600±$17k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,127±$55Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 114% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$8,091Highest 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±30.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Sutton | Plainfield School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Plainfield High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.3 |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.