Compare towns
Wolcott vs Dedham vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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.
| Measure | Wolcott | Dedham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,279Lowest |
25,237 |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Dedham 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 37% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham 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 about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,799 86% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±24.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #76 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Dedham | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Wolcott High School | Dedham High | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.