Compare towns
Bristol vs Meriden vs Enfield
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).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Enfield has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Meriden | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
60,545 |
41,090Lowest |
| 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±1.3 5% below CT |
40.7±1.9Highest about the CT average |
| Enfield and Meriden 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% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest 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%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Enfield 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% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
31.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$90,404±$5kHighest 6% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$252,900±$7k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
$1,574±$83Highest 6% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
$5,360 19% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
46.7%±6.7Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
75.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
14.5%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Enfield 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #123 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Francis T. Maloney High School | Enfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
16.2Highest |
13.5Lowest |
| 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.