Compare towns
Bristol vs Manchester vs Meriden
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 expensive homes ($278k median).
Manchester has the most people working from home (14.3%).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Manchester | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
59,635Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
38.9±1.3Highest 5% below CT |
| Meriden 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% |
20%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Meriden 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 |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Manchester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$247,100±$6k 33% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$5,652Highest 15% below CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Manchester 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 | #135 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Manchester High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
11.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.