Compare towns
Bristol vs Hampton vs Plainville vs Manchester
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%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
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 | Plainville | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
1,647Lowest |
17,551 |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% 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 |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$5,652Highest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Hampton School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | None in town | Plainville High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.