Compare towns
Vernon vs Killingly vs Bolton vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Bolton has the highest household income ($126k).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
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 | Vernon | Killingly | Bolton | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
17,867 |
4,853Lowest |
59,635Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Bolton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Manchester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,091Highest 22% above CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
7.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1969Highest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Manchester 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bolton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Killingly High School | Bolton High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.1 |
7.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.