Compare towns
Bristol vs Bloomfield vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Bristol | Bloomfield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
21,754Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$98,725±$14kHighest 3% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$286,900±$11kHighest 22% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #139 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
10.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.