Compare towns
Bristol vs Preston vs Burlington
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).
Preston has the oldest population (median age 46.2).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
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 | Preston | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
4,821Lowest |
9,680 |
| 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 |
39.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Preston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
25.9%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Burlington 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 |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$165,120±$13kHighest 72% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$418,700±$21kHighest 14% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,427±$671 4% below CT |
| Preston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$7,464Highest 12% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
46.1%±15.9Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
94.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1981Highest 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
25%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Preston School District | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | None in town | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.