Compare towns
Plainville vs Richmond 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($436k median).
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 | Richmond | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
8,142Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.7±4.1 10% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richmond 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 4% above U.S. |
$124,653±$27kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$435,800±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,580±$777Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
| Richmond and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,362Highest 104% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Richmond 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 | #16 of 38 in RI | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Chariho | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Chariho High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.7 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.