Compare towns
Bristol vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Plainville | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
17,551 |
12,579Lowest |
| 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 |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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 |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
| Bristol and Windsor Locks 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 |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol 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 |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.4 |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.