What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Epping
People
Population	3,778Lowest	7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S.	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Bristol and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Epping 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol and Epping 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 U.S.	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$337,300±$46kLowest about the U.S. average	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.
	Epping and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Lowest 92% above U.S.	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Epping School District
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.