Compare towns
Plainville vs Bloomfield vs Windsor Locks 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).
Bloomfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Windsor Locks has the most homeowners (77.1%).
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 | Plainville | Bloomfield | Windsor Locks | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
21,754 |
12,579Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Windsor Locks 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bloomfield and Plainville 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 |
$98,725±$14kHighest 3% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$286,900±$11kHighest 22% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$5,795Highest 13% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
5.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
24 minHighest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Bloomfield and Windsor Locks 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 | #139 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Windsor Locks School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | Windsor Locks High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.1 |
8.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.