Compare towns
Bristol vs Ripton vs Westminster vs New Haven
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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
New Haven has the shortest commute (22 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 | Ripton | Westminster | New Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
508 |
497Lowest |
1,792 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
48±3.9Highest 11% above VT |
| New Haven and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and New Haven 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and New Haven 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$92,321±$17k 14% above VT |
| Ripton and New Haven 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$379,300±$19k 20% above VT |
| Ripton and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,163±$143 6% below VT |
| Bristol and New Haven 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,967 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
20.1%±6.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
78.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.