Compare towns
Plainville vs Sterling 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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
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 | Sterling | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
3,629Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Plainville and Sterling 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling 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 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Sterling 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 |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Sterling and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
— | $1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sterling School District | 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 | 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.