What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k median).

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k 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	Derby
People
Population	22,220Highest	12,487Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.	46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S.	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
	Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S.	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bristol and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,393Lowest 73% above U.S.	$5,510Highest 77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 38 in RI	#138 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol Warren	Derby School District
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Derby High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	9.7Lowest
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.