What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lumberland has the most expensive homes ($318k 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	Lumberland
People
Population	2,081Highest	2,068Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.6±5.8Highest 35% above NY	52.3±2.8Lowest 31% above NY
	Bristol and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5%	13.1%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bristol and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.7%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bristol and Lumberland 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 NY: 40.2%	37.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Bristol and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,000±$25kLowest about the NY average	$102,957±$22kHighest 20% above NY
	Lumberland 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±$52kLowest 46% below NY	$318,200±$20kHighest 25% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$938±$147 42% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,208Lowest 36% below NY	$5,123Highest 22% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bristol and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest NY: 14%	10%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	96.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 22 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 24% below NY	35 minHighest 7% above NY
Work from home	14.8%±5Highest NY: 14.9%	14.6%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bristol and Lumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NY 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.