What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bradford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).

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	Bradford	Bristol
People
Population	2,827Lowest	3,778Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.7±3.1Lowest about the VT average	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT
	Bristol and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Bradford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bradford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±1Lowest VT: 7%	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,162±$15kHighest 33% above VT	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,600±$30kLowest 18% below VT	$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$808Lowest about the VT average	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT
	Bristol and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,472Lowest 11% below VT	$5,978Highest 19% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.9%±23.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bristol and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 same as VT	1976 same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% above VT	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	7.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bristol and Bradford 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	#45 of 70 in VT	#31 of 70 in VT
School district	Oxbow Unified Union School District #91	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61
High school in town	Oxbow Union High School	Mt. Abraham Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.