Compare towns
Bristol vs Hancock 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 oldest population (median age 47.9).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
435Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
38.2±4.8 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Hancock 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Hancock 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 VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Hancock 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 |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$82,188±$15kHighest about the VT average |
| Starksboro and Hancock 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
| Bristol and Starksboro 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 |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$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 |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Starksboro 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% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest 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 | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | 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.