Compare towns
Danbury vs Middletown vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Middletown has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Bristol has the most homeowners (64.9%).
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 | Danbury | Middletown | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 87,263Highest |
47,958Lowest |
61,462 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Danbury and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.5%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Danbury and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,393±$6kHighest 13% below CT |
$79,438±$6k 17% below CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Danbury and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $411,200±$12kHighest 12% above CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,877 12% below CT |
$6,412Highest 3% below CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±4.8 CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±1.8 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Middletown and Danbury 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 | #137 of 149 in CT | #121 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Danbury High School | Middletown High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.