Compare towns
Bristol vs Peru vs Guilford
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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Peru | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
434Lowest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
| Bristol and Guilford 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Guilford 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
| Peru and Guilford 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
| Guilford and Bristol 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 |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,827 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Guilford 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Guilford 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.