Compare towns
Bristol vs Hebron vs Jay vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hebron has the most affordable homes ($207k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Meredith has the most kids (17% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Bristol | Hebron | Jay | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,081Highest |
1,751 |
471Lowest |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±5.8 38% above U.S. |
52.2±4.2 34% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Bristol 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% |
15%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Hebron 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. |
$73,205±$4kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,600±$52k 31% below U.S. |
$206,800±$26kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
| Jay and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,055±$120Highest 25% below U.S. |
— | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Hebron and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,208Highest 35% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.7%±67.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Jay 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% |
17.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.