Compare towns
Bristol vs Middlebury vs Reading
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 affordable homes ($337k median).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Middlebury | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
9,175Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Bristol 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Bristol 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Middlebury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Middlebury and Reading 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 |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Middlebury 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% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Middlebury 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 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| 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.