Compare towns
Bristol vs Southington vs Manchester
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 most kids (20.1% under 18).
Southington has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Southington | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
43,803Lowest |
59,635 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Manchester 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% |
21%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 17% below CT |
$124,309±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
$86,840±$4k 9% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,472±$77 about the CT average |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
| Manchester and Southington 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 |
$6,206Highest 7% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1 CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
24 minHighest 9% below CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 16% |
| Southington and Manchester 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 | #51 of 149 in CT | #135 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Southington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Southington High School | Manchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
12.8 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.