Compare towns
Bristol vs Strafford vs Vergennes
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%).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Vergennes has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
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 | Strafford | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±2.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vergennes 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$76,587±$13k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$310,000±$24kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,000±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
| Bristol and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,578Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Strafford 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 | — | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Strafford School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.