Compare towns
Bristol vs Windsor Locks vs Brooklyn 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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Brooklyn has the highest household income ($96k).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Brooklyn | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
12,579 |
8,517Lowest |
60,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks and Brooklyn 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% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
23.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$96,207±$15kHighest about the CT average |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
| Brooklyn and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$315,200±$28kHighest 14% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 same as CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
23 min 13% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Windsor Locks School District | Brooklyn School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
8.9Lowest |
— | 16.2Highest |
| 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.