Compare towns
Bristol vs Thompson 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 youngest population (median age 43).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Thompson | Middletown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,220Highest |
9,337Lowest |
16,832 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.8±2 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
47.4% 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% |
6.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8k 21% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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±$25k 46% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$563,300±$46kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,990±$170Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393 73% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±2.3Lowest 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 | #23 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Thompson School District | Middletown |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Middletown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
7.9Lowest |
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.