Compare towns
Bristol vs Dorset vs Rupert
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).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Dorset | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
2,092 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Dorset and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— |
| Dorset and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Rupert 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | 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.