Compare towns
Bristol vs Castleton vs Ripton
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 renters (28.7% rent).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Castleton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
4,453Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bristol 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Bristol 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 |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— |
| Bristol and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Ripton 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.