What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Glocester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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	Glocester
People
Population	22,220Highest	10,221Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+2.3%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI	50.8±4.3Highest 25% above RI
Kids under 18	12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8%	19.8%±4.3Highest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	22.9%±2Highest RI: 18.7%	22.2%±3.4Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Bristol and Glocester 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 RI: 37.7%	35.7%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3%	4.3%±1.9Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI	$113,508±$7kHighest 29% above RI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI	$396,500±$28kLowest about the RI average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI	$1,417±$627Lowest 6% above RI
	Bristol and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,393Highest 10% above RI	$5,248Lowest 7% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48%	64.5%±24Highest RI: 48%
	Glocester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest RI: 11.2%	4.8%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%	91%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI	1975Highest 13 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the RI average	34 minHighest 35% above RI
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13%	13.1%±4.7Highest RI: 13%
	Glocester 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	#12 of 38 in RI
School district	Bristol Warren	Foster-Glocester · Glocester
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Ponaganset High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.