Compare towns
Plainville vs Sutton vs Washington 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 highest household income ($147k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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 | Sutton | Washington | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
9,452 |
3,676Lowest |
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. |
49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Washington and Plainville 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Washington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Washington 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. |
$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$5,449 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Sutton 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% |
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% |
79% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below 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% |
20.1%±9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Washington 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #17 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sutton | Regional School District 12 | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Sutton High School | Shepaug Valley School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.6 |
9.1Lowest |
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.