Compare towns
Bristol vs Reading vs Wakefield
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 highest household income ($166k).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
25,612Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2Lowest 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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% |
59.7% 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% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Reading and Wakefield 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. |
$7,779 149% 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% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Wakefield 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% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol School District | Reading | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Reading Memorial High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.