Compare towns
Bristol vs Killingly vs Windsor vs Plainville
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).
Windsor has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Windsor | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,867 |
29,468 |
17,551Lowest |
| 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 |
43.7±1.9 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Plainville and Windsor 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% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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%±2 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Windsor 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest 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 |
$104,725±$8kHighest 9% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$305,200±$11kHighest 17% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Windsor and Killingly 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 |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Windsor 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% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
21 min 19% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Killingly High School | Windsor High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1 |
10.2Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.