What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Reading
People
Population	61,462Highest	25,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Reading 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%	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average	$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S.	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Lowest 75% above U.S.	$9,320Highest 199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 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%	30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#115 of 149 in CT	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol School District	Reading
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	12.1Lowest
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.