Compare towns
Plainville vs Wethersfield 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 most affordable homes ($254k median).
Wethersfield has the most people working from home (18%).
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 | Wethersfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Lowest |
27,250 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
43.4±1.5 6% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Plainville and Wethersfield 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% |
21.1%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Wethersfield 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 CT: 18.5% |
20.4%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Wethersfield 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 CT: 42.5% |
54.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$126,806±$12kHighest 32% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$324,600±$11kHighest 12% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,370±$150Highest 8% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Wethersfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$7,296Highest 10% above CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.6%±11.9 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.9% CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
80.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 minHighest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±2.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #92 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Wethersfield School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Wethersfield High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.8 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.