What are the schools like in Bristol, CT?

Bristol is served primarily by Plainville School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6:1.

What is the median household income in Bristol?

The median household income in Bristol, CT is $82,094 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Bristol, CT?

Bristol has an average high temperature of 36.3°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.6 inches.

Bristol, CT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bristol, CT affordable or expensive?

Bristol's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bristol is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $235,700 and the median rent is $1,228 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bristol, CT?

Bristol has a violent crime rate of 58.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 958.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bristol, CT a Good Place to Live?

Bristol is a mid-sized city of 61,052 in Connecticut, with a median household income of $82,094 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Bristol stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Bristol is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bristol city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 97.5

Bristol's overall cost of living index is 97.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bristol costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bristol, CT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$235,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,228	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$82,094	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bristol's violent crime rate is 58.2 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

58.2 /100k

Property Crime

958.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bristol is served primarily by Plainville School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bristol, CT	National Avg
School District	Plainville School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bristol sees average highs of 36.3°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 52.0 inches of annual precipitation and 38.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bristol, CT
Average High — January	36.3°F
Average High — July	83.7°F
Annual Precipitation	52.0"
Annual Snowfall	38.6"

Demographics

Metric	Bristol, CT	National Avg
Population	61,052	—
Median Age	37.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	70.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.2%	18.9%
Asian	3.5%	6.3%
Under 18	21.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Terryville, CT 3 mi Plantsville, CT 7 mi Thomaston, CT 7 mi New Britain, CT 8 mi Kensington, CT 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Bristol

Bristol, CT is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

06010 06062

Bristol vs Other Cities

Bristol, CT vs Terryville, CT Bristol, CT vs Plantsville, CT Bristol, CT vs Thomaston, CT Bristol, CT vs New Britain, CT Bristol, CT vs Kensington, CT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristol, CT affordable or expensive?

Bristol's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bristol roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $235,700 and median rent is $1,228/month.

What is the crime rate in Bristol, CT?

Bristol's violent crime rate is 58.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 958.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bristol?

Public schools in Bristol are operated by Plainville School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 29.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bristol, CT a good place to live?

Bristol, CT has a population of 61,052, a median household income of $82,094, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bristol?

Bristol averages 36.3°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.0 inches with about 38.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bristol?

Bristol, CT is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 06010, 06062.

What is the population of Bristol?

The population of Bristol, Connecticut is 61,052 with a median age of 37.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bristol?

Key numbers for living in Bristol: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $235,700, median household income $82,094, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bristol side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.