Compare towns
Bristol vs Derby vs Middletown
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 most homeowners (66.1%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Middletown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Derby | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,220Highest |
12,487Lowest |
16,832 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.4±3.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.8±2 13% above U.S. |
| Derby and Middletown 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown and Derby 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% |
22.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Middletown 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% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,948±$6kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Middletown and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$563,300±$46kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
$1,452±$95Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,990±$170Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,510 77% above U.S. |
$6,153Highest 97% 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% |
46.9%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Middletown 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% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | #23 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Derby School District | Middletown |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Derby High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.