Compare towns
Bristol vs Putnam vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (11.4%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,141 |
| 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±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Plainfield 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kHighest 17% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
| 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.