Compare towns
Bolton vs Bristol vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Bolton | Bristol | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Lowest |
3,778Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Bristol and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Barnard 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.