Compare towns
Bristol vs Lowell
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 people working from home (17.9%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% 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 | Lowell |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Bristol and Lowell 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Lowell 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% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Lowell School District |
| 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 |
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.