What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).

Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Walpole
People
Population	3,778Highest	3,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S.	46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walpole 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol and Walpole 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.	$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average
	Walpole and Bristol 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	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Lowest 92% above U.S.	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bristol and Walpole 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	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.