Compare towns
Bristol vs Orange vs Plainfield
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 renters (35.1% rent).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Orange | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
14,315Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Bristol 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% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 minHighest 4% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | — | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.