Compare towns
Plainville vs Putney vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Putney has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Bristol has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Putney | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
2,622Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
37.9±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Putney 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 20% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,449Highest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.