Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Ledyard vs Plainfield
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 renters (35.1% rent).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Killingly | Ledyard | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
15,433 |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% 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%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$107,975±$10kHighest 13% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$326,200±$27kHighest 11% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Ledyard and Killingly 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 |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Ledyard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,371Highest 4% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1972Highest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ledyard School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | Ledyard High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1 |
11.5 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.