Compare towns
Plainville vs Putnam vs Plainfield 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).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Bristol has the most people working from home (11.4%).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
7,120Lowest |
15,141 |
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 |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±1.5 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Plainville and Putnam 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% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 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±$7kHighest 12% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 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±$14k 31% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | — | Plainfield School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | — | Plainfield High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
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.