Compare towns
Plainville vs Naugatuck 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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Naugatuck has the most people working from home (15%).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($278k median).
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 | Naugatuck | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
31,800 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.1%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+0.6%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
39.8±2.4 3% below CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Naugatuck 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% |
15.6%±2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 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% |
32.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Naugatuck 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 |
$96,324±$9kHighest about the CT average |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Naugatuck 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 |
$259,100±$13k 29% below CT |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
| Bristol and Naugatuck 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 |
$1,369±$58Highest 8% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Naugatuck and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,362Highest 4% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.2%±9.4 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Naugatuck are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
6.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
67.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
33 minHighest 26% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
15%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Naugatuck 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 | #116 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Naugatuck School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Naugatuck High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
15.2Highest |
14.0 |
| 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.