Compare towns
Bristol vs Panton vs Waltham
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).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Panton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
690 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
| Waltham and Panton 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 |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Panton and Bristol 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Bristol 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Waltham 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.