Compare towns
Bristol vs Reading vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Manchester has the most renters (43.1% rent).
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 | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
25,612Lowest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±1.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±1.6Lowest 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%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Manchester 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. |
$86,840±$4k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$247,100±$6kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,519±$66 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,652 81% 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% |
48.1%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Reading | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Reading Memorial High | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.