Compare towns
Bristol vs Reading vs Plainville
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
25,612 |
17,551Lowest |
| 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±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest 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% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 75% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% 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% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Plainville 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | — | Plainville 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.