Compare towns

Bristol vs Killingly 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Killingly has the highest household income ($84k).
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.

MeasureBristolKillinglyPlainfield
People
Population
61,462Highest
17,867
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±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%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
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%
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%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
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%
5.6%±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±$8kHighest
12% below CT
$76,993±$8kLowest
20% 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±$8k
24% below CT
$288,600±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$272,100±$16kLowest
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±$45Highest
10% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,204±$70
19% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,449Highest
18% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% 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%
39.8%±9.5Lowest
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%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
73.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
same as CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1971Highest
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below CT
28 minHighest
5% above CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
11.4%±1.7Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
10%±4Lowest
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 #131 of 149 in CT
School district Bristol School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Plainfield School District
High school in town Bristol Central High School Killingly High School Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.0Highest
11.1
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.