Compare towns
Bristol vs Arlington vs Starksboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Arlington | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
2,598 |
1,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.2±4.8 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Arlington and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Bristol and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
| Starksboro and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 70 in VT | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Arlington School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.