Compare towns
Bristol vs Guilford vs Ripton
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).
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Guilford | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
2,461 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
46.7±5.2Lowest 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Guilford 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 |
$5,827 16% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Ripton 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.