Compare towns
Bristol vs Windham vs Wolcott
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Wolcott has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Windham | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
23,961 |
16,279Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.4±2.5Highest 8% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Wolcott 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$326,200±$17kHighest 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
| Wolcott 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 |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$5,799Highest 13% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Wolcott 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 | #76 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Windham High School | Wolcott High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.1 |
| 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.