Compare towns
Bristol vs Middlesex vs Plainfield 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 most renters (28.7% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Plainfield | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,943 |
1,314Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Plainfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Starksboro 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Bristol 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Starksboro 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Starksboro 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.