Compare towns
Wolcott vs Bristol vs Watertown
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 highest household income ($111k).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Watertown has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Bristol | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,279Lowest |
61,462Highest |
22,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
46.3±2.9Highest 13% above CT |
| Watertown and Wolcott 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% |
20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Watertown 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% CT: 42.5% |
30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest 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±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Wolcott and Watertown 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 |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$333,500±$16kHighest 9% below CT |
| Watertown 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 |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,275±$227Lowest 14% 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 |
$5,449Lowest 18% below CT |
$6,014Highest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±24.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Watertown and Bristol 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% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
24 min 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bristol and Wolcott 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 | #115 of 149 in CT | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Bristol School District | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Wolcott High School | Bristol Central High School | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
14.0Highest |
10.6 |
| 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.