Compare towns
Bristol vs Suffield vs Meriden
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Suffield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
15,702Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,294±$72Lowest 13% below CT |
| Suffield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 18% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,129Lowest 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
26 minHighest 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Suffield High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
10.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.