Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Meriden vs Suffield
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Meriden | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
60,545 |
15,702Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Bristol 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Suffield 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% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Meriden 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% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT | #57 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 · Meriden School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
11.1 |
16.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.