Compare towns
Bristol vs Epsom vs Vergennes
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 most people working from home (17.9%).
Epsom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Vergennes has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Epsom | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
4,939Highest |
2,565Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
46.6±2.1Lowest 20% above 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Epsom and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$97,941±$13kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$76,587±$13k 5% below U.S. |
| Epsom and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
$338,400±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$310,000±$24kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Epsom and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,000±$267Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 92% above U.S. |
$6,210Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,578Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Bristol 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Epsom School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.