What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Thompson
People
Population	22,220Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,764±$8kHighest 21% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Bristol and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,393Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Bristol Warren	Thompson School District
High school in town	Mt. Hope High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	7.9Lowest
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.