What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Lincoln
People
Population	22,220Lowest	22,864Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI	43.7±2.2Highest 8% above RI
	Lincoln 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 RI: 18.8%	21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	22.9%±2Lowest RI: 18.7%	24%±2.7Highest RI: 18.7%
	Lincoln and Bristol 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%	45.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3%	5.8%±1.8Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI	$104,821±$15kHighest 19% above RI
	Lincoln 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±$25kHighest 20% above RI	$450,600±$17kLowest 11% above RI
	Bristol and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI	$1,468±$152Lowest 9% above RI
	Bristol and Lincoln 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	$4,751Lowest 3% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48%	40.4%±9.8Highest RI: 48%
	Lincoln 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 RI: 11.2%	7.4%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%	72.1%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI	1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the RI average	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13%	13.3%±3.4Highest RI: 13%
	Lincoln 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	#21 of 38 in RI
School district	Bristol Warren	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	14.7Highest
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.