Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Bristol, CT

    Is Bristol a good place to live?

    Watch Bristol

    Bristol ranks #7 of 24 Connecticut cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (63/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $252,300
    +7.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,305
    per month
    Household income
    $83,458
    median
    Unemployment
    7.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Bristol

    The median home value in Bristol is $252,300 and median rent is $1,305 a month, against a median household income of $83,458. Homes cost about 3.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Bristol crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Connecticut the 2025 rate was 111 violent and 1,159 property crimes per 100,000 people — #46 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Bristol, CT

    Bristol has about 61,129 residents, 7.0% unemployment and 19% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Bristol with

    Bristol vs BridgeportBristol vs StamfordBristol vs New HavenBristol vs HartfordBristol vs WaterburyBristol vs NorwalkBristol vs DanburyBristol vs New Britain

    More: Where to move in Connecticut · Best counties in Connecticut

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report