Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Thompson
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Plainville | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
17,551 |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Plainville 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson 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±$15k 21% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Killingly 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±$141 30% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Thompson 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | Plainville High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1 |
11.4 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.