Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Plainfield vs Naugatuck
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 most expensive homes ($289k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Naugatuck has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Plainfield | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
15,141Lowest |
31,800 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.8±2.4Highest 3% below CT |
| Naugatuck and Killingly 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% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Naugatuck 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
32.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck 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±$6k 17% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$96,324±$9kHighest about the CT average |
| Naugatuck 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,369±$58Highest 8% below CT |
| Naugatuck 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,362Highest 4% 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% |
42.2%±9.4 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% CT: 10% |
6.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Naugatuck 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #116 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 | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.