Compare towns
Bristol vs Starksboro vs Williston vs Ripton
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).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Starksboro | Williston | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778 |
1,939 |
10,144Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% 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% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Williston 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% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Williston and Ripton 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 |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.