What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Brookline
People
Population	2,917Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S.	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,750±$19kLowest 25% above U.S.	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S.	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	25%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bristol and Brookline 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	#16 of 133 in ME	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Bristol Public Schools	Brookline School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.