Compare towns
Stepney vs Durham vs Barkhamsted vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stepney has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Durham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barkhamsted has the oldest population (median age 50.2).
Bolton has the most renters (12% rent).
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 | Stepney | Durham | Barkhamsted | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,979 |
7,208Highest |
3,678Lowest |
4,853 |
| Median age | 47.1±5.6 15% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
50.2±3.3Highest 22% above CT |
43.7±3.3Lowest 6% above CT |
| Barkhamsted and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±5.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Stepney and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,966±$16k 61% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$123,544±$9kLowest 29% above CT |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Durham and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$424,800±$23k 16% above CT |
$368,000±$15k about the CT average |
$367,600±$17kLowest about the CT average |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,164±$114 22% below CT |
$1,127±$55Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,309Highest 40% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$6,354Lowest 4% below CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.2%±48.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Stepney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
7.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
88%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Durham 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 | — | #88 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 13 | Barkhamsted School District | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | — | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Highest |
— | 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.