Compare towns
Bristol vs Plainfield vs Thompson vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Bristol | Plainfield | Thompson | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
15,141 |
9,337Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Lowest 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 |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2% 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% |
5.6%±0.9 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±$8k 20% below CT |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| 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±$16k 26% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,294±$72 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,129 23% 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% |
53.4%±4.9 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% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest 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 | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Plainfield School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Plainfield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
10.3 |
7.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.