What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($485k 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	Thompson	Bristol
People
Population	9,337Lowest	22,220Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.	43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.9%±1.9Highest 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+	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±2Lowest 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+	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.	$97,764±$8kHighest 21% 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	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.	$485,000±$25kHighest 46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,579±$118Highest 12% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.	$5,393Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.1Lowest 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	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±2.7Lowest 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	#130 of 149 in CT	#20 of 38 in RI
School district	Thompson School District	Bristol Warren
High school in town	Tourtellotte Memorial High School	Mt. Hope High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	12.5Highest
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.