What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).

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	Thompson
People
Population	61,462Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	37.9±1.5Lowest 8% below CT	54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT
Kids under 18	20.1%±1.7Highest CT: 20.2%	11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5%	24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest CT: 42.5%	21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±0.9Highest CT: 7.1%	2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,076±$6kLowest 17% below CT	$93,629±$18kHighest about the CT average
	Thompson 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±$8kLowest 24% below CT	$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT
	Thompson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,338±$45Highest 10% below CT	$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT
	Bristol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,449Highest 18% below CT	$3,822Lowest 42% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±5.9Highest CT: 52.6%	54%±18.7Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Bristol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest CT: 10%	5.9%Lowest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%	84.3%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest same as CT	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below CT	32 minHighest 20% above CT
Work from home	11.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 16%	13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol School District	Thompson School District
High school in town	Bristol Central High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 photos →	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.