What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).

Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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	Bristol	Athens
People
Population	3,778Highest	431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT	47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT
	Bristol and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Athens and Bristol 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%	21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bristol and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%	4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7%
	Bristol and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT	$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT
	Bristol and Athens 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	$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT	$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT
	Bristol and Athens 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	$5,438Lowest 8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%	43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bristol and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	73.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% above VT	36 minHighest 53% above VT
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Athens 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	#31 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	—
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
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.