Compare towns
Plainville vs Bethlehem vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Bristol has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Bethlehem | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
3,423Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest 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 | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Regional School District 14 | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| 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.