What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Sutton
People
Population	22,220Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Sutton 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%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$25kLowest 46% above U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
	Sutton and Bristol 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.	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Bristol and Sutton 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.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 38 in RI	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol Warren	Sutton
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	12.6Highest
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.