Compare towns
Bristol vs Wakefield vs Meriden
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Wakefield | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
27,793Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
38.9±1.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,294±$72Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 75% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$5,129Lowest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
10.7Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.