Compare towns
Bristol vs Burlington vs Plainville
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).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
9,680Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
39.9±2.4 about the CT average |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Bristol 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% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington and Plainville 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 |
$165,120±$13kHighest 72% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,427±$671Highest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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%Highest CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
94.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Regional School District 10 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Lewis S. Mills High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.