Compare towns
Bristol vs Ledyard vs Plainfield vs Burlington
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).
Ledyard has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
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 | Ledyard | Plainfield | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
15,433 |
15,141 |
9,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37.1±1.4 10% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
| Burlington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
27.5%±3.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ledyard and Burlington 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ledyard 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% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington 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 |
$107,975±$10k 13% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$165,120±$13kHighest 72% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$326,200±$27k 11% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,629±$247Highest 9% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,427±$671 4% below CT |
| Ledyard and Burlington 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 |
$6,371 4% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$7,464Highest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±27 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
94.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #99 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Ledyard School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Ledyard High School | Plainfield High School | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.5 |
10.3Lowest |
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.