Compare towns
Bristol vs Dover vs Williston
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%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
1,466Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$8k 8% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 History | 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.