Compare towns
Bristol vs Jay vs Grafton
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Grafton has the most kids (17.8% 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 | Jay | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,081Highest |
471Lowest |
1,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±5.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
52.4±6.9 35% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Grafton 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Grafton 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,000±$25k 7% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$100,809±$24kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Bristol 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. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$216,800±$39kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Jay and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,112±$329 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,208Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,452Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.5%±46.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±4.5Lowest 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 |
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.