Compare towns
Bristol vs Hampton vs Manchester vs Torrington
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).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Hampton | Manchester | Torrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
1,647Lowest |
59,635 |
35,547 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -2.4%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
42.9±1.8 4% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.2%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Manchester 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 |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
| Hampton 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 |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
| Hampton and Bristol 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,652Highest 15% below CT |
$5,042 24% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
66.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Manchester 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 | — | #135 of 149 in CT | #132 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | None in town | Manchester High School | Torrington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.