Compare towns
Bristol vs Braintree vs Vergennes
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 expensive homes ($337k median).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Vergennes has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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 | Braintree | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
46.6±2.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Vergennes and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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 |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$76,587±$13k 6% below VT |
| Braintree and Vergennes 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$310,000±$24k about the VT average |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,000±$267 19% below VT |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,578 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Braintree 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.