Compare towns

Killingly vs Bristol vs Prospect vs Plainville

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 renters (35.1% rent).
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureKillinglyBristolProspectPlainville
People
Population
17,867
61,462Highest
9,458Lowest
17,551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.6%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
39.5±3
4% below CT
37.9±1.5Lowest
8% below CT
46.8±3.9Highest
14% above CT
44.3±1.5
8% above CT
Prospect and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20.1%±1.7
CT: 20.2%
21.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Prospect and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±1.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±4.3Highest
CT: 18.5%
20.1%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
Prospect and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
30.3%
CT: 42.5%
40.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
30%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±0.9
CT: 7.1%
3.5%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.2%±1.6Highest
CT: 7.1%
Plainville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,350±$8k
12% below CT
$79,076±$6kLowest
17% below CT
$126,394±$18kHighest
32% above CT
$84,343±$7k
12% below CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$277,800±$8k
24% below CT
$355,400±$21kHighest
3% below CT
$254,000±$14kLowest
31% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
$1,338±$45
10% below CT
$1,800±$433Highest
21% above CT
$1,126±$147
24% below CT
Prospect and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,449
18% below CT
$6,504Highest
about the CT average
$4,798
28% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
55.5%±5.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
45.3%±31.8
CT: 52.6%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Bristol and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
10.7%
CT: 10%
3.2%Lowest
CT: 10%
6.5%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
CT: 66.5%
64.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
93.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.7%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1967Lowest
same as CT
1974Highest
7 yrs newer than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above CT
24 min
11% below CT
28 min
4% above CT
21 minLowest
20% below CT
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
11.4%±1.7Highest
CT: 16%
10.1%±3.2Lowest
CT: 16%
10.7%±2
CT: 16%
Bristol and Killingly 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 #136 of 149 in CT #115 of 149 in CT #50 of 149 in CT #89 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Bristol School District Regional School District 16 Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town Killingly High School Bristol Central High School None in town Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
14.0Highest
—
11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.