Compare towns
Bristol vs Burlington vs Suffield
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 affordable homes ($278k median).
Burlington has the highest household income ($165k).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
9,680Lowest |
15,702 |
| 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 |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$165,120±$13kHighest 72% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Burlington and Suffield 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 |
$1,427±$671Highest 4% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
| Burlington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$7,464Highest 12% above CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
94.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
| Burlington and Suffield 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 | #58 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Regional School District 10 | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Lewis S. Mills High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.4 |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.