Compare towns
Bristol vs Eden vs Franklin
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 expensive homes ($337k median).
Eden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Eden | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,351Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
37.7±1.9Lowest 13% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Bristol and Franklin 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% |
20.4%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
4.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$83,578±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Eden and Franklin 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 |
$215,900±$27kLowest 32% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Bristol and Franklin 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 |
$1,300±$441Highest 5% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Eden 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 |
$3,313Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.3%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Franklin 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% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1991Highest 15 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
38 minHighest 63% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.