Compare towns
Bristol vs Morristown vs Plainfield
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%).
Morristown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% 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 | Morristown | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
5,722Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
47.8±4.6Lowest 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above 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%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
25.5%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Morristown 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% VT: 43.8% |
40.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.6%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Morristown 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±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$66,273±$5kLowest 18% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$298,600±$48kLowest 6% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$1,214±$123 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
| Bristol and Morristown 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 |
$4,838 4% below VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
40%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest 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% |
9.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
65%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 | #35 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Peoples Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.4Highest |
— |
| 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.