What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k median).

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Northbridge
People
Population	61,462Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northbridge 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 U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Bristol and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Highest 75% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bristol and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	None yet

U.S. 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.