Compare towns
Bristol vs Bloomfield vs Windsor Locks vs Manchester
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 most kids (20.1% under 18).
Bloomfield has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
21,754 |
12,579Lowest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest 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±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$98,725±$14kHighest 3% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Manchester 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 |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% 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±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Windsor Locks High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.1 |
8.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.