Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Prospect vs Putnam
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).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Prospect | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
9,458 |
9,292Lowest |
| 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 |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
| Prospect and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Killingly 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% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Killingly 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 |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Prospect 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,504Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Prospect 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% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 16 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.