Compare towns
Plainville vs Union vs Windsor Locks 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).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Union | Windsor Locks | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,551 |
944Lowest |
12,579 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.9%Highest CT: +0.9% |
+0.6%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Union 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 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Windsor Locks 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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 |
$88,958±$14kHighest 7% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Union 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 |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
— | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798 28% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$5,449Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
24 min 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Union 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 | 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.