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Living in
Bristol.
About
Life in Bristol
Bristol works as a suburban home base if you want proximity to Hartford and regional access without being in a dense urban core—your commute will average around 24 minutes, which is reasonable for this part of Connecticut. Housing is moderately priced compared to many Northeast suburbs, with median home values around $278,000 and rentals around $1,305 monthly, though those numbers have climbed steadily. The job market here benefits from ESPN's presence and other established manufacturers, so there are employment options without always commuting out, though many residents will still head toward Hartford or beyond.
Bristol at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.7%
Foreign-Born
11.4%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.4% foreign-born, most often from Ecuador
Who lives in Bristol: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bristol, the largest foreign-born group is from Ecuador (10.8%), and 12.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
16.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.3%
of households
Married Couples
42.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.48
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% below CT average
Rent, home values, and income in Bristol
In Bristol, rent runs 10% below the CT average, and home values are 24% below the CT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
99.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,449
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1967
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $346,945 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CT
Unemployment in Bristol
Unemployment in Bristol is close to the CT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bristol Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.7 min avg
How Bristol residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bristol, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 78 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 84% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bristol runs 84% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
52.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
647.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bristol Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
In Hartford County, which includes Bristol, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,800 |
| 2024 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,700 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $22,600 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,900 |
| 2021 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.0M |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $66,200 |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.8M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hartford County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hartford County, which includes Bristol, is typically good — 248 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
248
per year
Moderate Days
109
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Hartford County, county-wide
Climate81°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bristol has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
52.0"
Annual Snowfall
38.6"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
142
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 17°F | 3.65" |
| Feb | 39°F | 18°F | 3.36" |
| Mar | 47°F | 26°F | 4.22" |
| Apr | 60°F | 36°F | 4.28" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.19" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.83" |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 4.44" |
| Aug | 82°F | 60°F | 5.14" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 5.01" |
| Oct | 63°F | 41°F | 5.66" |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 3.87" |
| Dec | 41°F | 24°F | 4.81" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bristol
Bristol has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Bristol Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 mi away · New Britain
John Dempsey Hospital of the University of Connect
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Farmington
Saint Mary's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.2 mi away · Waterbury
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bristol
Bristol's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Bristol (within 15 miles)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 13,603 students · in-state tuition $16,499 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,639 (10 yrs after entry)
Central Connecticut State University
9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 7,822 students · in-state tuition $13,050 · 59% graduate · median earnings $65,779 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,146 students · in-state tuition $50,445 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,020 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,146 students · in-state tuition $73,590 · 82% graduate · median earnings $103,089 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 1,821 students · in-state tuition $8,506 · 62% graduate · median earnings $65,844 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
14.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 1,525 students · in-state tuition $18,240 · 65% graduate · median earnings $82,098 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Springfield Armory National Historic Site, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bristol
Bristol has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Springfield Armory National Historic Site (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Springfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayWeir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
39 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
47 mi awayEleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
50 mi awayHome Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site
National Historic Site
51 mi awayVanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
National Historic Site
52 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bristol
Bristol Public Library
5 High St., Bristol
F. N. Manross Memorial Library
260 Central St., Bristol
Cities Near Bristol
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bristol?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bristol FAQ
Is Bristol, Connecticut affordable?⌄
Bristol's median rent is $1,338/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $79,076/year. Median home value is $277,800.
Is Bristol, Connecticut safe?⌄
Bristol's violent crime rate was 53 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 647 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bristol, Connecticut?⌄
Bristol has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bristol, Connecticut?⌄
The cost of living in Bristol is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,338/month and median household income is $79,076/year. The median home value is $277,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bristol, Connecticut?⌄
The average commute in Bristol is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from