Compare towns
Bristol vs Naugatuck 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).
Naugatuck has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Naugatuck | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
31,800 |
17,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
-1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Naugatuck 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% |
15.6%±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% |
32.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck and Plainville 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 |
$96,324±$9kHighest about the CT average |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
| Naugatuck 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 |
$259,100±$13k 29% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Bristol and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,369±$58Highest 8% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
| Naugatuck and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$6,362Highest 4% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Naugatuck 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 | #116 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Naugatuck School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Naugatuck High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
15.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.