Compare towns
Danbury vs West Haven 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%).
West Haven has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | West Haven | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 87,263Highest |
55,351Lowest |
61,462 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest CT: +0.9% |
0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.6±1.3Highest about the CT average |
35.8±1.5Lowest 13% below CT |
37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
| Danbury and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±1.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| West Haven and Bristol 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%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Danbury and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.5% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1 CT: 7.1% |
13.6%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,393±$6kHighest 13% below CT |
$74,382±$5kLowest 22% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Danbury and Bristol 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 |
$291,700±$9k 20% below CT |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,846±$63Highest 24% above CT |
$1,442±$43 3% below CT |
$1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,877 12% below CT |
$6,941Highest 4% above CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±4.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±5.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% CT: 10% |
14.1%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% CT: 66.5% |
50.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
23 minLowest 14% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±1.8Highest CT: 16% |
9.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Danbury and Bristol 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 | #120 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Danbury School District | New Haven School District · West Haven School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Danbury High School | West Haven High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.7Highest |
15.6 |
14.0Lowest |
| 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.