Compare towns
Wolcott vs Hampton vs Bristol vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Bristol has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k median).
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 | Hampton | Bristol | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,279 |
1,647Lowest |
61,462Highest |
29,040 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±2.5 8% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT |
44.9±1.4 9% above CT |
| Hampton and Cheshire 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Bristol 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
30.3% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$277,800±$8kLowest 24% below CT |
$440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,464±$913Highest about the CT average |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,338±$45 10% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Wolcott and Cheshire 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,449 18% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bristol and Hampton 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
10.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
11.4%±1.7 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Hampton 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 | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Hampton School District | Bristol School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Wolcott High School | None in town | Bristol Central High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.