Compare towns
Bristol vs Bloomfield vs Plainfield vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
21,754 |
15,141Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
19.4%±2.6 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% |
16.6%±2.4 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8k 20% below 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% 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 |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Plainfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Plainfield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
10.1Lowest |
10.3 |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.