Compare towns
Bristol vs Reading vs Southington
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).
Southington has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Southington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
25,612Lowest |
43,803 |
| 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. |
45±1.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Southington 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% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Southington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% 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% |
6.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Southington 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. |
$124,309±$9k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$373,800±$10k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,472±$77 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,206 99% 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% |
43.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Southington 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #51 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | — | Southington School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | — | Southington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.