What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Derby
People
Population	61,462Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest CT: +0.9%	-4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9%
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT	46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%	14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5%
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest CT: 42.5%	35.6%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9 CT: 7.1%	5.9%±2 CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT	$79,500±$11kHighest 17% below CT
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,800±$8kHighest 24% below CT	$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT
	Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Lowest 10% below CT	$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Lowest 18% below CT	$5,510Highest 17% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%	53.9%±12.6Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Lowest CT: 10%	10.8%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Highest CT: 66.5%	61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 same as CT	1967 same as CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below CT	27 minHighest about the CT average
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16%	15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16%
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#115 of 149 in CT	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol School District	Derby School District
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.