Compare towns
Bristol vs Preston vs Manchester
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 kids (20.1% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Manchester has the most people working from home (14.3%).
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.
| Measure | Bristol | Preston | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
4,821Lowest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below 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% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
28.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Manchester 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 |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Preston and Manchester 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Manchester and Preston 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 |
$5,652Highest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Lowest 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% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
23 min 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Manchester 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Preston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | None in town | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.