Compare towns
Bristol vs Burlington vs Killingly vs Plainfield
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Burlington | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
9,680Lowest |
17,867 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
39.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Burlington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington 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 |
$165,120±$13kHighest 72% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,427±$671Highest 4% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Burlington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$7,464Highest 12% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
94.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Regional School District 10 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Lewis S. Mills High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.4 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.