Compare towns
Vernon vs Killingly vs Bolton vs Middletown
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 affordable homes ($276k median).
Bolton has the highest household income ($126k).
Middletown has the shortest commute (23 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 | Vernon | Killingly | Bolton | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577 |
17,867 |
4,853Lowest |
47,958Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5Lowest 7% 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%±2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bolton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$126,364±$19kHighest 32% above CT |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$367,600±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
$1,446±$45Highest about the CT average |
| Middletown 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 |
$6,412 3% 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% |
47.7%±5.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Middletown 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% |
12% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
88%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer 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 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT | #121 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 · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Killingly High School | Bolton High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.1 |
7.4Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.