Compare towns
Bristol vs Danby vs Manchester
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 youngest population (median age 47.9).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Danby | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
1,133Lowest |
4,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
| Manchester and Danby 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% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester and Danby 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% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Danby 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% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
| Manchester and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,057±$76 14% below VT |
| Bristol and Manchester 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 |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Bristol 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% |
9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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.