Compare towns
Bristol vs Willimantic vs Windham vs Plainville
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).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Windham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
18,096 |
23,961 |
17,551Lowest |
| 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 |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham 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 |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% below CT |
$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
| Plainville 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 |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham 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% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
24 minHighest 8% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Plainville 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | — | Windham High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.