Compare towns
Bristol vs Manchester 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 expensive homes ($278k median).
Manchester has the most people working from home (14.3%).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
59,635 |
17,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Bristol 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Manchester and Plainville 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±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$5,652Highest 15% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Manchester High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.