Compare towns
Southington vs Bristol vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southington has the oldest population (median age 45).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k median).
Cheshire has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Southington | Bristol | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,803 |
61,462Highest |
29,040Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Southington and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Southington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,309±$9k 30% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,800±$10k about the CT average |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
$1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Southington and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,206 7% below CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Southington 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 | #51 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Bristol School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Bristol Central High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.