Compare towns
Naugatuck vs Suffield 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
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Naugatuck | Suffield | Plainville | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,800 |
15,702Lowest |
17,551 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | — | +0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Suffield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,324±$9k about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,100±$13k 29% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$58 8% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Suffield and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362 4% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 15%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield and Naugatuck 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 | #116 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Naugatuck School District | Suffield School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Naugatuck High School | Suffield High School | Plainville High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.4 |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.