City profile · Connecticut · Census ACS 2023

Bristol, CT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bristol - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

61,129
Residents
$83,458
Median income
$252,300
Median home
$1,788
Median rent (state)

Bristol - the verdict

Nationally, Bristol sits in the 65th percentile for household income and the 63rd percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

65th
percentile, household income
56th
percentile, home value
74th
percentile, median rent
63rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bristol, CT

Bristol is a small city in Connecticut, home to 61,129 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Bristol households earn a median of $83,458 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.0%. Home values in Bristol run a median of $252,300, and the median resident age is 38.2 years. About 30.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 37 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), down 5% from five years earlier. Bristol reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1016.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Connecticut carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,788 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Connecticut's average monthly utility costs around $345 (state average). Workers in Bristol report an average commute of 22.1 minutes, with 77.4% driving alone and 9.8% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 93.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

61,129 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Connecticut

Median Household Income

$83,458 /yr

Poverty 5.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.6 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Connecticut average

How does Bristol compare to other US cities?

Bristol measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 56% pricier than other cities
Median rent 74% pricier than other cities
Safety 63% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Connecticut, Bristol ranks #16 of 46 Connecticut cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bristol against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Connecticut only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Connecticut-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Bristol toward the bottom of Connecticut's cities

Among the 207 Connecticut cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Bristol ranks #159 - the 17th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bristol only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#134 of 198
32nd percentile in Connecticut
Median Gross Rent
#159 of 207
17th percentile in Connecticut
Median Home Value
#155 of 201
23rd percentile in Connecticut
Poverty Rate
#70 of 204
66th percentile in Connecticut
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#156 of 207
25th percentile in Connecticut

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Connecticut only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

65thIncome percentile
63rdSafety percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income · 63rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bristol's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bristol's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 54 Avg. percentile National median
Bristol's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Bristol's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$252,300 44th percentile more affordable than 44% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bristol $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bristol, CT Bristol, CT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bristol, CT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bristol, CT median $83,458/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bristol, CT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bristol, CT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
61,129
Median Income
$83,458
Median Home Value
$252,300
Median Age
38.2
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Labor force participation
65.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1016.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
58.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
958.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
14
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
60,500 residents61,000 residents61,500 residents62,000 residents62,500 residents63,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 60,744 residents 62,341 residents ▲ +2.6%
Bristol's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
37
housing units authorized
Single-Family
37
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 39
2020 94
2021 94
2022 37
2023 52
2024 37

Permit volume decreased 5% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.1 minutes
Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
9.8%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
9.8%
Other
0.7%

Based on 32,367 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Connecticut - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$175
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$345
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Connecticut state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Connecticut state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bristol sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.6
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,788/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Connecticut

Meriden
60,418 people
West Hartford
63,809 people
West Haven
55,147 people
East Hartford
50,798 people
Milford city (balance)
50,749 people
New Britain
73,301 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bristol's 61,129 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jupiter, FL
61,097 people
Woodland, CA
61,256 people
Santa Cruz, CA
60,953 people
Montebello, CA
61,376 people
La Mesa, CA
60,835 people
Pico Rivera, CA
60,821 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bristol's $83,458 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rocky Point, WA
$83,456 median income
Bell Buckle, TN
$83,452 median income
Boothwyn, PA
$83,444 median income
West Point, VA
$83,475 median income
Waikoloa Beach Resort, HI
$83,438 median income
Goodell, IA
$83,438 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bristol, CT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bristol, CT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 69.6% 7.3% 12.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 18.6% White 69.6% Black or African American 7.3% Asian 4.7% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 5.4% Two or more races 12.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bristol compares to nearby Connecticut cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bristol (this city) 61,129 $83,458
Meriden 60,418 $68,617
West Hartford 63,809 $125,616
West Haven 55,147 $73,566
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CT FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bristol, CT?

What is the population of Bristol, CT? +

Bristol, CT counts 61,129 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bristol, CT? +

Bristol households earn a median of $83,458 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bristol? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bristol; the closest available measure is the Connecticut state average, a cost of living index of 103.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Connecticut vary by metro area.

Is Bristol, CT safe? +

Bristol has a total crime rate of 1016.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Bristol, CT? +

A typical home in Bristol is worth $252,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.