Compare towns
Bristol vs Rochester 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 expensive homes ($337k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,389Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$82,188±$15kHighest about the VT average |
| Starksboro and Bristol 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
| Bristol and Starksboro 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.