Compare towns
Plainville vs Killingly vs Putnam 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).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Killingly | Putnam | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
17,867 |
7,120Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Plainville and Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest 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%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Killingly 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% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$84,350±$8kHighest 12% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Killingly 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±$14k 31% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Killingly and Bristol 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 |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Killingly 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% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #115 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 |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Killingly High School | — | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.