Compare towns
Bristol vs Lowell vs Middlebury
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).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
1,070Lowest |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
| Middlebury 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±$46k 7% above VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
| Middlebury 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 3% above VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
| Bristol and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Lowell School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.