Compare towns
Wolcott vs Bethany 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).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Wolcott | Bethany | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,279 |
5,288Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.4±2.5Highest 8% above CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
| Wolcott and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±3.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Wolcott and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Bristol 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 |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
— | $1,338±$45Lowest 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 |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
2.3% CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
| Bethany and Bristol 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | 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.