Compare towns
Southington vs Killingly 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
Southington has the most people working from home (17.3%).
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 | Southington | Killingly | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,803 |
17,867 |
15,141Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±1.5 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Southington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 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±$9kHighest 30% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$79,076±$6k 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,800±$10kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$277,800±$8k 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,206Highest 7% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Southington 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
28 minHighest 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #51 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.