Compare towns
Bristol vs Putnam vs Suffield
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Putnam 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Suffield 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Suffield and Bristol 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Putnam School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Putnam High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.