Compare towns
Bristol vs Putnam 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 homeowners (64.9%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Putnam | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
9,292Lowest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam 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% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$6k 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$86,840±$4kHighest 9% below CT |
| Manchester 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Bristol and Putnam 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 |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$5,652Highest 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1962 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
25 minHighest 6% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Putnam School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Putnam High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.