What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k median).

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	Danby
People
Population	2,081Highest	1,133Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±5.8Highest 38% above U.S.	52.6±4.8Lowest 35% above U.S.
	Bristol and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Danby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,000±$25kHighest 7% above U.S.	$77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Bristol and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$228,600±$52kLowest 31% below U.S.	$272,400±$41kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Danby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$794±$166 44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,208Lowest 35% above U.S.	$4,543Highest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.4%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Danby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bristol and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school 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.