Compare towns
Bristol vs Unity vs Guilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Unity | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,375Lowest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 23% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
46.7±5.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Guilford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Guilford 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 U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$75,243±$6k 7% below U.S. |
| Unity and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest about the U.S. average |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$312,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,283±$273 9% below U.S. |
| Unity and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,394Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$5,827 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Guilford 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 | Unity School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.