Compare towns

Wolcott vs Ashford vs Bristol

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wolcott has the oldest population (median age 44.4).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bristol has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureWolcottAshfordBristol
People
Population
16,279
4,226Lowest
61,462Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+0.6%
CT: +0.9%
Median age
44.4±2.5Highest
8% above CT
37.9±10.3Lowest
8% below CT
37.9±1.5Lowest
8% below CT
Wolcott and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±3.1
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±5.5Lowest
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+
18.8%±2.8
CT: 18.5%
18.9%±3.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
16.2%±1.2Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Ashford and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.3%
CT: 42.5%
30.3%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±0.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
Bristol and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,850±$10k
16% above CT
$121,926±$23kHighest
27% above CT
$79,076±$6kLowest
17% below CT
Ashford and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,200±$17k
11% below CT
$334,800±$18kHighest
9% below CT
$277,800±$8kLowest
24% below CT
Ashford and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,464±$913Highest
about the CT average
$1,246±$208Lowest
16% below CT
$1,338±$45
10% below CT
Wolcott and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,799
13% below CT
$6,982Highest
5% above CT
$5,449Lowest
18% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.8%±24.2
CT: 52.6%
47%±26Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.5%±5.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
Bristol and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.4%
CT: 10%
10.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%Highest
CT: 66.5%
76.8%
CT: 66.5%
64.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1967Lowest
same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above CT
34 minHighest
30% above CT
24 minLowest
11% below CT
Work from home
11.2%±3.1Lowest
CT: 16%
19.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 16%
11.4%±1.7
CT: 16%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #76 of 149 in CT #90 of 149 in CT #115 of 149 in CT
School district Wolcott School District Ashford School District Bristol School District
High school in town Wolcott High School None in town Bristol Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
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.