Compare towns
Meriden vs Upton vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bristol has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Meriden | Upton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 60,545 |
8,189Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±1.3 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Meriden 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 12% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,294±$72 8% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,129Lowest 64% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #124 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | Blackstone Valley | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.