Compare towns
Plainville vs Killingly vs Bristol vs East Haven
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).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
East Haven has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Killingly | Bristol | East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
17,867 |
61,462Highest |
27,806 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
45.7±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
| East Haven 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.8%±2.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.5%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| East Haven 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1Lowest 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 |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$94,628±$9kHighest about the CT average |
| East Haven and Killingly 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
$294,200±$12kHighest 20% below CT |
| East Haven and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,528±$132Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
$5,122 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Haven 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
74.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Killingly 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT | #127 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Bristol School District | East Haven School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Killingly High School | Bristol Central High School | East Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
14.0Highest |
12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.