Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Manchester 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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
Manchester has the most people working from home (14.3%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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.
| Measure | Bristol | Killingly | Manchester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
59,635 |
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±1.2Lowest 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%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 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 |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Manchester and Killingly 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 |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% 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±$45 10% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,652Highest 15% 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% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Manchester 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% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Manchester and Bristol 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 | #135 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | Manchester High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
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.