Bristol, Connecticut
Among the top 9% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 8% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 28% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 74% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 91% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 44% of US places
- top 7% for school quality
- top 11% for walkability
- bottom 7% for property tax rate
Bristol is a mid-size city in Connecticut with about 61,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and F for affordability. Standout strengths include school quality, walkability, and airport distance. It rates lower on cost of living and property tax rate.
Official websiteci.bristol.ct.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Wet · Snowy
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
64%50%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in3.8 in
humid 96%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$82k74th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$61kbetter than 12% of US places
Home Value$236k68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 25% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 21% of US places
Property Tax Rate2.20%better than 7% of US places
Income Tax6.90%better than 22% of US places
Sales Tax6.35%better than 74% of US places
Estimated total tax burden15.31%better than 16% of US places
Unemployment6.6%better than 27% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)28°F34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation52.0 in84th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall38.6 inbetter than 23% of US places
Sunny Days185 daysbetter than 13% of US places
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 60% of US places
Comfortable Days91 daysbetter than 72% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk49.6better than 71% of US places
Air Quality46 AQIbetter than 50% of US places
School Quality100.0better than 93% of US places
Violent Crime663/100kbetter than 54% of US places
Property Crime1312/100kbetter than 36% of US places
Community
Population61,05298th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.533rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4781st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9850th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1617th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)64.2%26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)6.8%80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)20.3%85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.4%87th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)5.3%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time25 minbetter than 53% of US places
Walkability10.7/20better than 89% of US places
Airport Distance22 mibetter than 87% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access90.1%better than 65% of US places
Amenities Nearby13.76better than 17% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 62% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bristol an affordable place to live?
- Bristol is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $61k, better than 12% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Bristol?
- The median home value in Bristol is $236k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Bristol?
- Median household income in Bristol is $82k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Bristol?
- Median gross rent in Bristol is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Bristol safe?
- Bristol is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 663/100k (better than 54%). Property crime is 1312/100k.
- What is the weather like in Bristol?
- Bristol averages 74°F in July and 28°F in January, with 52.0 in of annual precipitation and about 185 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Bristol?
- Public-school quality in Bristol is above average, scoring better than 93% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Bristol?
- The average one-way commute in Bristol is 25 min.
Other places in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
Places near Bristol
Compare Bristol
Explore Connecticut
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)