Compare towns
Bristol vs Harvard vs Killingly vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Harvard | Killingly | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
6,927Lowest |
17,867 |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
38.9±1.3 about the U.S. average |
| Harvard and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meriden and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,294±$72 8% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 75% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,129 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Harvard | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | The Bromfield High School | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
11.0Lowest |
11.1 |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.