Compare towns
Bristol vs Dover vs Starksboro
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Dover | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Dover and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Starksboro 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$82,188±$15kHighest about the VT average |
| Starksboro and Bristol 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Bristol and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
| Starksboro and Bristol 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Starksboro 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.