Compare towns
Bristol vs Bow vs Vergennes
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Vergennes has the shortest commute (21 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 | Bow | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
8,335Highest |
2,565Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.6±2.1 20% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Bristol 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 U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$76,587±$13k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$310,000±$24kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 10% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,000±$267Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 92% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,578Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Bow School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Bow High School | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.