Compare towns
Bristol vs Hampton vs Meriden
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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
1,647Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Bristol 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Meriden 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 |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% 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±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Meriden 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% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer 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 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Lowest |
— | 16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.