Compare towns
Bristol vs Vergennes vs Guilford
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 expensive homes ($337k median).
Vergennes has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Vergennes | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
2,565 |
2,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
46.6±2.1Lowest 8% above VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
| Bristol and Guilford 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% |
15.2%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford 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% |
21.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford 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% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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 |
$76,587±$13kHighest 6% below VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
| Vergennes 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 7% above VT |
$310,000±$24kLowest about the VT average |
$312,600±$39k about the VT average |
| 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±$181 3% above VT |
$1,000±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
| Guilford 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 |
$5,578Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,827 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #22 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Vergennes Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.