Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windham | Windsor Locks | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
23,961Highest |
12,579 |
4,853 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
| Bolton and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% 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 |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Windham 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #109 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 | Windsor Locks School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Windsor Locks High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.9 |
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.