Compare towns
Bristol vs Bloomfield vs Southington
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Southington has the most expensive homes ($374k 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 | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
21,754Lowest |
43,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
45±1.4 9% above CT |
| Bloomfield and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Southington 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% |
21%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.8% CT: 42.5% |
43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
$373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,472±$77 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$5,795 13% below CT |
$6,206Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield and Southington 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #139 of 149 in CT | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.