Compare towns
Bristol vs Elmore 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).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Starksboro has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
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 | Elmore | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
964Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Bristol and Elmore 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% |
23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Elmore 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Starksboro 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% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Elmore and Starksboro 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 |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Bristol and Elmore 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 |
$1,225±$263Lowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Elmore 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Starksboro 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 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | 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.