What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Killingly
People
Population	61,462Highest	17,867Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT	39.5±3Highest 4% below CT
	Killingly 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%	19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Bristol and Killingly 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%	19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5%
	Killingly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Bristol and Killingly 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	$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT
	Killingly and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT	$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT
	Killingly 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	$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Highest 18% below CT	$3,922Lowest 41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%	42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Bristol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest CT: 10%	11.4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	71.6%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1968Highest 1 yr newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below CT	28 minHighest 5% above CT
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16%	11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16%
	Bristol and Killingly 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	#136 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.