Compare towns
Plainville vs Thompson vs Plainfield 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Thompson | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
9,337Lowest |
15,141 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 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 |
$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Thompson 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 |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Thompson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Thompson School District | Plainfield School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Plainfield High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
7.9Lowest |
10.3 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.