Compare towns
Bristol vs Stratton vs Ripton 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).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Stratton | Ripton | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
532 |
508Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.2±4.8 11% below 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Starksboro 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
| Starksboro 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.