B+

Bolton, CT

Source:

Affordability Score: 78/100

Population: 4,986 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Bolton, CT aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 4,986 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (78/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $126,364, median home value of $367,600, median rent of $1,127 per month, and 51.3% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,653 per month (studio $1,133, 1BR $1,306, 3BR $1,992, 4BR $2,363). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,080 per year, consuming 12% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Bolton, CT include income, education, rent. Unemployment currently reads 1.3% and poverty 7.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A+
$126,364
Median household income
Education A-
51.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.9x
Home value $367,600 vs income
Commute C
25 min
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,653/mo
2BR fair market rent (16% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$15,080/yr
Center-based infant care (12% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$126,364
▲ 104% vs national
Per Capita Income
$60,288
Unemployment Rate
1.3%
Poverty Rate
7.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$367,600
▲ 34% vs national
Median Rent
$1,127/mo
Owner Occupied
88.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,653/mo
▲ 38% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,133
1BR
$1,306
2BR
$1,653
3BR
$1,992
4BR
$2,363

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
51.3%
▲ 21 ppt vs national
High School+
71.9%
Median Age
43.7
Avg. Commute
25 min
▼ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,080/yr
12% of income
Toddler (Center)
$15,080/yr
Preschool (Center)
$12,220/yr
School-Age (Center)
$5,980/yr

What This Means

Bolton, CT receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (78/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 4,986. This area performs well in income and education and rent. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Bolton, CT affordable?
Bolton, CT receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (78/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $126,364. Median home value is $367,600.
What is the cost of living in Bolton?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,127/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,653/mo. Infant childcare $15,080/yr. Median home value $367,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →