Compare towns
Bristol vs Sharon 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 renters (28.7% rent).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Sharon | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,577Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest 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±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Sharon and Starksboro 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Sharon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
| Sharon and Starksboro 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 |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Starksboro 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Starksboro 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Sharon School District | 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 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.