What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plainville	Bristol
People
Population	17,551Lowest	61,462Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.6% CT: +0.9%
Median age	44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2%	20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	20.1%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Plainville and Bristol 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%	30.3%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1%	5.9%±0.9Lowest 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±$7kHighest 12% below CT	$79,076±$6kLowest 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	$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT	$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT	$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,798Lowest 28% below CT	$5,449Highest 18% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6%	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%
	Bristol and Plainville 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%	10.7%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Highest CT: 66.5%	64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT	1967Lowest same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below CT	24 minHighest 11% below CT
Work from home	10.7%±2Lowest 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	#89 of 149 in CT	#115 of 149 in CT
School district	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District	Bristol School District
High school in town	Plainville High School	Bristol Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

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.