Compare towns
Bristol vs Mansfield vs Manchester
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 homeowners (64.9%).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
25,358Lowest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Highest 8% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
37±1.2 10% below CT |
| Bristol and Manchester 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 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%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Bristol and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% 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±$8k 24% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,519±$66 about the CT average |
| Mansfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | E. O. Smith High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.8 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.