Compare towns
Reading vs Bristol vs Reading
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 affordable homes ($278k 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.
| Measure | Reading | Bristol | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
61,462Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,338±$45Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$5,449Lowest 75% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #115 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Reading | Bristol School District | — |
| High school in town | Reading Memorial High | Bristol Central High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.