Compare towns
Plainville vs Putnam vs Union 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 (40.2% rent).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Putnam | Union | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
9,292 |
944Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Union 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Union 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
— | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Putnam School District | Union School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Putnam High School | None in town | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
— | 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.