Compare towns
Bristol vs Dover vs Wardsboro
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 highest household income ($75k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,466 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Bristol and Wardsboro 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 |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% 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 |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Bristol 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.