What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($229k median).

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Mendon
People
Population	2,081Highest	1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±5.8Highest 38% above U.S.	53.4±10.5Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Bristol and Mendon 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mendon 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol and Mendon 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 7% above U.S.	$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Mendon 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 31% below U.S.	$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,230±$651 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,208Lowest 35% above U.S.	$5,342Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon 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%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mendon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.