Compare towns
Bristol vs Reading vs Starksboro
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Reading | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
699Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Reading and Starksboro 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
| Starksboro 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Starksboro 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.