Compare towns
Meriden vs Plainville vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meriden has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($278k median).
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 | Meriden | Plainville | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545 |
17,551Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 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%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 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 | $71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$84,343±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Plainville and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129 23% below CT |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 minHighest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Plainville 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 | #124 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Plainville High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.