Compare towns
Plainville vs Stoneham 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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k 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 | Stoneham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
23,355 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Stoneham 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Plainville 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 4% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Stoneham | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Stoneham High | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
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.