What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Meriden
People
Population	61,462Highest	60,545Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest CT: +0.9%	0%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% 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%±1.7Lowest 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%±1.2 CT: 18.5%	16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	5.6%±0.9Lowest 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±$6kHighest 17% below CT	$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT
	Bristol and Meriden 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	$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT	$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT
	Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Highest 18% below CT	$5,129Lowest 23% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%	53.4%±4.9Lowest 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%	13.2%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below CT	23 minLowest 13% below CT
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16%	8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Bristol and Meriden 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	#124 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol School District	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Francis T. Maloney High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.