Compare towns
Wolcott vs Wakefield vs Suffield 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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k 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 | Wakefield | Suffield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,279 |
27,793 |
15,702Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Suffield 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Suffield 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 |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Suffield 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Suffield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Suffield School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Wolcott High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Suffield High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.7 |
10.9 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.