What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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	Chester
People
Population	3,778Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
	Chester 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%	14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Chester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7%
	Bristol and Chester 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	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT
	Bristol and Chester 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	$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT	$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Highest 19% above VT	$4,262Lowest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% above VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bristol and Chester 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	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	8.7Lowest
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.