Compare towns
Bristol vs Barnard vs New Haven
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 most affordable homes ($337k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
New Haven has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Barnard | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
48±3.9Highest 11% above VT |
| New Haven and Bristol 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| New Haven and Barnard 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% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Barnard 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 |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$92,321±$17k 14% above VT |
| Barnard and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$379,300±$19k 20% above VT |
| Barnard and New Haven 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 |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,163±$143Lowest 6% below VT |
| Barnard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,967Lowest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.