Compare towns
Bristol vs Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Vergennes
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).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Vergennes has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Middlesex | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,943 |
2,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
46.6±2.1 8% 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$76,587±$13k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$310,000±$24kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,000±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,578 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±17.7 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Bristol 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 | — | — | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | None in town | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | — | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.