Compare towns
Bristol vs Salisbury vs Stratton
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%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Salisbury | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,200 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Salisbury 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 |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Salisbury 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 |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
| Salisbury 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Salisbury 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% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | 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.