Compare towns
Bristol vs Windham vs Wolcott vs Meriden
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 people working from home (11.4%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Wolcott has the highest household income ($111k).
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
23,961 |
16,279Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Lowest 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 |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 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% CT: 42.5% |
37%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest 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% |
5.6%±0.9 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 |
$71,253±$4k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$326,200±$17kHighest 11% below CT |
$241,200±$7k 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| 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 |
$5,129 23% 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% |
53.4%±4.9 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% |
13.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6 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 | #124 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Windham High School | Wolcott High School | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
9.8Lowest |
10.1 |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.