What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	22,220Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Bristol and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Bristol and Douglas 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.	$6,338Highest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bristol and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 38 in RI	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol Warren	Douglas
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	7.2Lowest
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.