Compare towns
Bristol vs Epping vs Epsom vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the most homeowners (87.6%).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Epping | Epsom | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Lowest |
7,430 |
4,939 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$409,700±$30k 23% above U.S. |
| Epping and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 10% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113Lowest 18% below 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. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Middlebury 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Epping High School | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.