Compare towns
Wolcott vs Walpole 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%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).
Suffield has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Walpole | Suffield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,279 |
26,388 |
15,702Lowest |
61,462Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±2.5 14% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolcott and Suffield 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% |
67.4%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% |
5.1%±1.1 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. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$17k about the U.S. average |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% 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. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$8,523Highest 173% 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% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.6% 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% |
83.5% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% 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% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #115 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Suffield School District | Bristol School District |
| High school in town | Wolcott High School | Walpole High | Suffield High School | Bristol Central High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.3 |
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.