What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Plainville
People
Population	61,462Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT	44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5%	30%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1%	6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%
	Plainville and Bristol 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	$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT
	Plainville 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±$8kHighest 24% below CT	$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Highest 18% below CT	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Bristol and Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	67.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below CT	21 minLowest 20% below CT
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16%	10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16%
	Bristol and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol School District	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.