Compare towns
Bristol vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Middletown has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Salem | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,220 |
44,795Highest |
16,832Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2 11% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Middletown 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% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$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±$25kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$563,300±$46kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Middletown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,990±$170Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Middletown and Salem 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. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,153Highest 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 38 in RI | #248 of 282 in MA | #23 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Salem | Middletown |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Salem High | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.