Compare towns
Bristol vs Ira vs Benson
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 expensive homes ($337k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% 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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Benson 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
| Benson and Bristol 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 |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Bristol and Benson 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 History | 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.