What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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	Putnam
People
Population	22,220Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam 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%	18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Putnam 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%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,393Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bristol and Putnam 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bristol and Putnam 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol Warren	Putnam School District
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	9.5Lowest
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.