Compare towns
Plainville vs Redding vs Brooklyn 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).
Redding has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Brooklyn has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Redding | Brooklyn | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
8,780 |
8,517Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
52±2Highest 27% above CT |
45.6±2.5 11% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Brooklyn and Bristol 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% |
26.4%±3.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
72.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 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 |
$186,060±$15kHighest 94% above CT |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$706,300±$33kHighest 93% above CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$2,101±$304Highest 41% above CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,538Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
64.9%±19.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Redding 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% |
4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
36 minHighest 36% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
32.5%±4.9Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #14 of 149 in CT | #113 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Redding School District · Regional School District 09 | Brooklyn School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Joel Barlow High School | None in town | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 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.