Living in Bristol, CT
Bristol is a city of 62,195 residents in Hartford County, Connecticut, with a downtown on North Main Street, Lake Compounce and several museums.
Bristol at a glance
- Median sale price
- $350,965+6.4% vs last year 736 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 35.30 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$8,700 median-priced home
- Population
- 62,195 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 26.4 sq mi 2,356 per sq mi
What it is like in Bristol
Bristol is a city in Hartford County covering 26.4 square miles, west of Hartford and bordered by Plainville, Plymouth, Burlington, Southington, Wolcott and Harwinton. Its sections include Forestville, Edgewood, Chippens Hill and Cedar Lake.
The town was incorporated in 1785 and became a city in 1911. Clockmaking began around 1790 and was followed by brass, spring and hardware manufacturing. ESPN has its headquarters on Middle Street.
Downtown Bristol centers on North Main Street and Federal Hill, which the state designated as the Bristol Cultural District in 2022. The American Clock & Watch Museum, New England Carousel Museum and Bristol Historical Society are in town.
Lake Compounce, opened in 1846, is an amusement and water park on Enterprise Drive. Parks in town include Rockwell Park, Page Park, Kern Park, Brackett Park and Seymour Park, and there are two golf courses, Chippanee Golf Club and Pequabuck Golf Course. The H.C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center is on Shrub Road.
Downtown Live at the Rockwell Theater on Memorial Boulevard hosts concerts and shows. The Bristol Mum Festival, which began in 1962, includes a parade, and a Pumpkin Festival is held in Forestville. Places to eat range from Harvest Bakery and Rich Farm Ice Cream to Asian Bistro and Bell City Diner.
Getting around from Bristol
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 28 min | 17 |
| New Haven | 42 min | 29 |
| Stamford | 89 min | 64 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 143 min | 99 |
| Boston | 151 min | 118 |
| Providence | 128 min | 92 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 53 min | 32 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
U.S. Route 6 and Connecticut Route 72 are the main highways through Bristol. Hartford is 17 miles and 28 minutes by car, New Haven is 29 miles and 42 minutes, and Bradley Airport is 32 miles and 53 minutes away.
CTtransit runs bus service in Bristol. Other drive times are 89 minutes to Stamford, 143 minutes to Midtown New York City, 151 minutes to Boston and 128 minutes to Providence.
Schools in Bristol
13 public schools in Bristol School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 7
- Ellen P. Hubbell
- Greene-Hills
- Ivy Drive
- Mountain View
- South Side
- Stafford
- West Bristol
Middle 2
- Chippens Hill
- Northeast
High school 3
- Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School
- Bristol Central High School
- Bristol Eastern High School
Other 1
- Edgewood Pre-K Academy
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Bristol School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Bristol
Open Bristol in Google Maps →Eat and drink 22
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Deli serving sandwiches, grinders, soups, salads and house-made sweets on weekdays and Saturday.
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Restaurant serving Chinese dishes, Japanese dishes and ramen, open daily.
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Diner on Pine Street serving meals from early morning to late evening.
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Japanese restaurant on Farmington Avenue serving sushi, teriyaki and bento boxes.
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Pizza restaurant on West Street, open seven days.
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Pizzeria on Farmington Avenue serving pizza and Italian dishes.
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American eatery with breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus takeout meals and catering.
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Ice cream shop on Stafford Avenue, open afternoons and evenings.
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Fried chicken takeout spot in the Chippens Hill area, open Tuesday through Sunday.
Show 13 more
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Bakery selling cakes, pies, pastries and breads, open Tuesday through Sunday.
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Pub on Main Street serving bar food, open late on Thursday through Saturday.
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Breakfast and lunch restaurant on Terryville Road, open daily.
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Pizzeria on Middle Street, open daily from 11 a.m.
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Mexican restaurant on Riverside Avenue with a weekday happy hour.
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Vegan cafe serving soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and smoothies, with catering.
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Ice cream stand on Minor's Farm with house-made waffle cones, open daily afternoons.
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Breakfast and lunch restaurant on Farmington Avenue, open daily until 2 p.m.
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Thai restaurant on North Main Street serving curries and noodle dishes.
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Breakfast and lunch cafe on North Main Street, open six days with a shorter Sunday breakfast.
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Coffee shop serving espresso drinks, tea, pastries and light food.
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Italian market and takeout shop on Stafford Avenue with prepared meals and catering.
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Pizzeria on Park Street with an online ordering menu.
Things to do and see 9
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Museum of clocks and watches in galleries about timekeeping and Bristol's clockmaking history.
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Local history museum and archive in a Summer Street building.
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Art studio on Riverside Avenue open Thursday through Sunday.
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Performance venue on Memorial Boulevard that hosts concerts and shows.
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Museum and early learning center on Pleasant Street.
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Amusement and water park opened in 1846.
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Museum of antique carousel figures with a restoration workshop and a carousel.
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Bowling and entertainment center on Farmington Avenue with a restaurant.
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Shop and craft workshop space on Race Street, closed Mondays.
Parks, preserves and trails 25
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Bristol housing market
Over the last 12 months, 736 homes sold in Bristol with a median sale price of $350,965 and a median of 10 days on market. There are 99 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $220 per square foot. The typical home sold for 102% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 6.4% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 1.6 months.
Bristol's town-wide property tax rate is 35.30 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,700 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Bristol
See all 99 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Bristol.
Questions about Bristol
What is the median home price in Bristol, CT?
The median sale price in Bristol is $350,965, based on 736 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Bristol, CT?
Bristol's town-wide property tax rate is 35.30 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,700 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Bristol, CT from Hartford?
Bristol is about 17 miles and a 28-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Bristol, CT from New York City?
Bristol is about 99 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 143-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of Bristol, CT?
Bristol has about 62,195 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 26.4 square miles.
How many public schools are in Bristol, CT?
Bristol has 13 public schools in Bristol School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Bristol, CT?
There are 99 homes for sale in Bristol right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
How far is Bristol from Hartford?
Hartford is 17 miles and about 28 minutes by car.
What museums are in Bristol?
The American Clock & Watch Museum, New England Carousel Museum, Bristol Historical Society and Imagine Nation Museum are in the city.
Which highways serve Bristol?
U.S. Route 6 and Connecticut Route 72 are the main highways.
What parks are in Bristol?
Parks in town include Rockwell Park, Page Park, Kern Park, Brackett Park and Seymour Park.
Is there bus service in Bristol?
CTtransit operates bus service in Bristol.
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Towns that border Bristol
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