Compare towns
Bristol vs Enfield 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 most renters (35.1% rent).
Enfield has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Enfield | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
41,090 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
40.7±1.9Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Enfield and Bristol 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% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
18%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Enfield 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% |
31.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±0.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$90,404±$5kHighest 6% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$252,900±$7kLowest 31% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,574±$83Highest 6% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$5,360 19% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
46.7%±6.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Enfield 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% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
14.5%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Enfield and Bristol 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Enfield High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.5 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.