Bristol center
111 North Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010
Living in Bristol, Connecticut
It grew up as a 19th-century clock-making center and today is known as the home of ESPN's headquarters and Lake Compounce, the country's oldest continuously operating theme park.
Bristol at a glance
- $333,750Median single-family sale, Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
- 35.30 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 25–30 minDrive to Hartford
- HartfordCounty · Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
Bristol's villages and zip codes
Bristol uses ZIP codes 06010 and 06011.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol center | 06010 | City Hall and the downtown Depot Square area sit near North Main Street in the center of the city. |
| Forestville | 06010 | A village in the southeastern quarter of Bristol, established in 1833 along King Street and Central Street. |
| Chippens Hill | 06010 | A neighborhood in the northwestern quarter of the city. |
Bristol covers about 26.8 square miles. It was incorporated in 1785.
Things to do in Bristol, CT
Start with Lake Compounce and American Clock & Watch Museum, then 1 more below.
Lake Compounce
An amusement and water park that opened in 1846, described by Wikipedia as the oldest continuously operating theme park in the United States. It sits on the Bristol/Southington line off Lake Avenue.
822 Lake Ave, Bristol, CT
Plan a visitAmerican Clock & Watch Museum
A museum on Maple Street devoted to Bristol's history as a 19th-century clock-making center, open since 1952.
100 Maple St, Bristol, CT
Plan a visitDepot Square
A downtown redevelopment site created after the former Bristol Centre Mall was demolished in 2008, now the focus of the city's downtown revitalization.
Downtown Bristol
Around the calendar
- SeptemberBristol Mum FestivalAn annual festival tied to the city's history as a leading producer of chrysanthemums, which gave Bristol its 'Mum City' nickname.
A little history
The area was part of Farmington until area residents, citing the difficulty of traveling there in winter, won approval in 1744 to form their own ecclesiastical society, called New Cambridge.
New Cambridge was incorporated as the town of Bristol, named for Bristol, England, in 1785; it became a city in 1911.
Clockmaker Gideon Roberts began producing and peddling wooden-movement clocks from Bristol around 1790, launching an industry that made the city a national clock-making center through the 19th century.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Bristol
Bristol's park system centers on Rockwell Park, the city's first public park, along with Page Park and the seasonal rides and lake at Lake Compounce on its southern border.
- Lake CompounceIn addition to its rides, the property includes the lake itself, used historically for recreation.More information
- Rockwell ParkA 104-acre park along the Pequabuck River west of downtown, with about 2.5 miles of mountain-bike trails, a walking loop, a pond, a skate park, a pump track, a pool, ballfields and a stadium.
- Page ParkA city park with a walking loop that has the most elevation gain among Bristol's trails.
Where to eat in Bristol: restaurants and coffee
3 places in Bristol to try, including mexican restaurant and pizzeria. No one paid to be listed.
Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
Mexican restaurant
A Mexican restaurant that has served the Bristol area since 2007, now in a downtown location on North Main Street.
96 N Main St, Bristol, CT 06010 · monterreymexicanct.com
West End Pizza
Pizzeria
A family-owned pizzeria on Park Street known for Greek-style pizza, serving Bristol since 1975.
15 Park St, Bristol, CT 06010
The Parkside Cafe
Breakfast cafe
A breakfast-only cafe on North Main Street, open mornings.
224 N Main St, Bristol, CT 06010 · parksidecafebristol.com
Walkability and getting around Bristol
How walkable Bristol is depends on the street. Check the Walk Score for any address below.
Forestville
Chippens Hill
Drive times
- Hartford, about 17 miles25–30 min
- Bradley International Airport, about 25 miles35–40 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
CTtransit's Bristol-area routes (541 Bristol Local, 542 Bristol Hospital, 543 West St., 502 Black Rock Ave. and 923 Bristol Express) serve the city, and CTfastrak Route 102 connects Bristol to New Britain and downtown Hartford; Bristol does not have its own passenger rail station.
Bristol property taxes and home prices
Bristol's 2026–27 mill rate is 35.30, which is $35.30 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $2,471 a year in taxes at 35.30 mills.
What homes in Bristol sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $310,000476 sales | $200,000140 sales |
| Sep 2025 | $333,750516 sales | $215,500152 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Bristol's mill rate for 2026–27
35.30mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Bristol35.30 mills
- Motor vehicles32.46 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2027
How Bristol's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 38.35 |
| 2023–24 | 30.35 |
| 2024–25 | 31.85 |
| 2025–26 | 33.75 |
| 2026–27 | 35.30 |
Bristol's town rate went from 38.35 in 2022–23 to 35.30 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2027.
Look up a Bristol property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
Buying a home in Bristol
What we check on a Bristol purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map.
First-time buyer programs in Bristol
CHFA sets Bristol's income and price limits for Hartford County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for BristolAll loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Bristol?
Send us a Bristol address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Bristol: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Bristol: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Natural gasEversource
- WaterBristol Water & Sewer Department (city utility)
- Sewer or septicBristol Water & Sewer Department, which also handles the sewer system, treating wastewater at its water pollution control facility before it's released to the Pequabuck River.
- Trash and recyclingBristol does not offer curbside pickup; residents bring trash and recycling to the city Transfer Station and pay as they throw on a permitted account.
Bristol Transfer Station
685 Lake Ave, Bristol, CT 06010 Monday–Friday 7:15 am–2:45 pm; Saturday 7:30 am–1:00 pm
New permit $65 (a $40 five-year permit fee plus a $25 minimum account deposit); five-year renewal $40
Transfer station detailsTown offices and contacts
Bristol Town Hall is at 111 North Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010. Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 am–4:30 pm; Friday 8:00 am–1:30 pm. Main line: 860-584-6100. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website860-584-6100
- AssessorProperty values and assessments(860) 584-6240
- Tax Office (Tax Collector)Property tax billing and collection(860) 584-6270
- Town and City ClerkVital records and land records(860) 584-6200
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections(860) 584-6215
- Land Use (Planning/Zoning)Land use and zoning applications(860) 584-6225
- Parks & RecreationParks, programs and facility registration(860) 584-6160
- Public WorksRoads, refuse and the transfer station(860) 584-6125
- Bristol Public Library (Main)Public library, main branch(860) 584-7787
- Bristol Public Library (Manross branch)Public library, Manross branch(860) 584-7790
- Bristol Public SchoolsThe city's public school district
Bristol, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Bristol, CT?
Bristol's 2026–27 mill rate is 35.30, which is $35.30 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is 32.46 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Bristol?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 35.30 mills that's about $12,355 a year, or about $1,030 a month. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
What is the median home price in Bristol, CT?
In the 12 months from October 2024 through September 2025, the median single-family sale in Bristol was $333,750 across 516 sales, compared with $310,000 the year before. The median condo sale was $215,500 across 152 sales.
When is Bristol's next revaluation?
Bristol's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2027, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2028.
What county is Bristol, Connecticut in?
Bristol is in Hartford County, within the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region.
What are Bristol's ZIP codes?
Bristol uses ZIP codes 06010 and 06011.
How far is Bristol from Hartford?
Bristol is roughly 17 miles from Hartford, about a 25–30 minute drive.
Does Bristol have curbside trash pickup?
No. Residents bring trash and recycling to the city's Transfer Station at 685 Lake Ave. using a paid, permitted account.
Towns near Bristol
Neighbors of Bristol in Hartford County and nearby. All Hartford County towns.
Sources
- Mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "Mill Rates for FY 2014–2027," data.ct.gov. Revaluation year: OPM, Revaluation Schedule 2023–2037.
- Home sales: "Real Estate Sales 2001–2024 GL," data.ct.gov. Medians use Bristol sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Wikipedia: Bristol, Connecticut: en.wikipedia.org
- City of Bristol official website: bristolct.gov
- Wikimedia Commons: St Joseph Church, Bristol CT.jpg: commons.wikimedia.org
- Bristol, CT: Transfer Station: bristolct.gov
- Bristol, CT: Water & Sewer Department: bristolct.gov
- Rockwell Park - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- AllTrails: Rockwell Park Loop and Page Park Loop, Bristol: alltrails.com
- Monterrey Mexican Restaurant, downtown Bristol location: bristoledition.org
- West End Pizza, Bristol - Tripadvisor: tripadvisor.com
- The Parkside Cafe, Bristol - Yelp: yelp.com
- CT Transit New Britain & Bristol - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Bristol Public Schools website: bristol.k12.ct.us
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.