Compare towns
Bristol vs Willimantic vs Plymouth
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 expensive homes ($278k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Plymouth has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Willimantic | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
18,096 |
11,746Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
44.6±2.8Highest 9% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plymouth 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$94,514±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Plymouth and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$275,000±$14k 25% below CT |
| Bristol and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,276±$132 14% below CT |
| Bristol and Plymouth 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 |
$4,678Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,819Highest 12% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±26.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Plymouth and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1965 2 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
29 minHighest 8% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.4%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Plymouth and Bristol 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 | — | #86 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | — | Plymouth School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | — | Terryville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.