Compare towns
Bristol vs Sharon vs Ferrisburgh
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%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Ferrisburgh has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Sharon | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,577Lowest |
2,661 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9Lowest 6% above VT |
| Bristol and Sharon 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% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Ferrisburgh 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$5,903Lowest 17% above VT |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ferrisburgh 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% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Ferrisburgh 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 | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Sharon School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.