Compare towns
Southington vs Suffield vs Wolcott 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 highest household income ($124k).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).
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 | Suffield | Wolcott | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,803 |
15,702Lowest |
16,279 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Southington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Bristol and Wolcott 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Southington and Wolcott 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% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$110,850±$10k 16% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Southington and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,800±$10k about the CT average |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
| Suffield and Southington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,472±$77Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,464±$913 about the CT average |
$1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT |
| Southington and Wolcott 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,799 13% below CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 17.3%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Southington School District | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Southington High School | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.9 |
10.1Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.