Compare towns
Plainville vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($278k median).
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 | Springfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
154,749Highest |
61,462 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.9±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield 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±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$79,076±$6k about the U.S. average |
| 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 24% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$277,800±$8kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,449Highest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Bristol 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Springfield | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Springfield Central High | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.2 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.