Compare towns
Bristol vs Wakefield vs Naugatuck
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Wakefield | Naugatuck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
27,793Lowest |
31,800 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±1.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
39.8±2.4 about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.8%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$96,324±$9k 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$259,100±$13kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,369±$58 3% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$6,362 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.2%±9.4Lowest 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #116 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Naugatuck School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Naugatuck High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
10.7Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.