Compare towns
Bristol vs Ripton vs Whiting 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 people working from home (17.9%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Ripton | Whiting | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | 0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
| Bristol and Ripton 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Guilford 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Guilford 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $1,204±$519Lowest 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$5,827 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | 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.