Compare towns
Bristol vs Plainfield vs Thompson
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).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Plainfield | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
15,141 |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
| Thompson 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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
| Thompson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Thompson 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.