What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

Poultney has the most kids (17.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Poultney
People
Population	3,778Highest	3,010Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-12%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT	34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.8%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Poultney and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Poultney 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%	9.3%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	Poultney 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	$72,617±$6kLowest 11% below VT
	Bristol and Poultney 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	$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT	$913±$84Lowest 26% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Highest 19% above VT	$3,520Lowest 30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%	43.3%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bristol and Poultney 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%	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3% VT: 73.2%	71.3% VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% above VT	29 minHighest 24% above VT
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%	11.3%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bristol and Poultney 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	#41 of 70 in VT
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	Poultney High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.