Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Ledyard vs Plainville
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).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
15,433Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37.1±1.4Lowest 10% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$107,975±$10kHighest 13% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$326,200±$27kHighest 11% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,126±$147 24% 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 |
$4,798 28% 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% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% 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 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 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 | #89 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 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | Ledyard High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
11.4 |
| 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.