Compare towns
Plainville vs Sutton vs Thompson 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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Sutton | Thompson | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
9,452 |
9,337Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 54% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Thompson 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sutton | Thompson School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Sutton High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.6 |
7.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.