What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).

Preston has the highest household income ($117k).

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	Preston
People
Population	61,462Highest	4,821Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT	46.2±7Highest 12% above CT
	Preston and Bristol 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%	18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Bristol and Preston 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Bristol and Preston 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	$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT	$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT	$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT
	Preston 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	$4,749Lowest 29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%	52.6%±12.5Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Bristol and Preston 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%	2.4%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	91.7%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest same as CT	1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below CT	22 minLowest 17% below CT
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16%	10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16%
	Bristol and Preston 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	#93 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol School District	Preston School District
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.