Compare towns
Bristol vs Somers vs Suffield vs Naugatuck
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Somers has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Naugatuck has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Somers | Suffield | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
10,308Lowest |
15,702 |
31,800 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | -1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
43.1±2.6 5% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
| Suffield and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Somers 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 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Somers and Suffield 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 CT: 42.5% |
37.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
32.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck 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 17% below CT |
$124,705±$15kHighest 30% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$96,324±$9k about the CT average |
| Somers and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$395,800±$21k 8% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$259,100±$13kLowest 29% below CT |
| Suffield and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,184±$346Lowest 20% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,369±$58 8% below CT |
| Suffield and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$6,362 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±13.9 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
6.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.2%±4.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Somers 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 | #66 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Somers School District | Suffield School District | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Somers High School | Suffield High School | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.