Compare towns
Bristol vs Reading vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k median).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Burlington has the most homeowners (94.6%).
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 | Reading | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
25,612 |
9,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.4 about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Burlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$165,120±$13k 105% above U.S. |
| Reading and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$418,700±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,427±$671 about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$7,464 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Burlington 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | — | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.