Compare towns
Bristol vs Walpole vs Starksboro
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 expensive homes ($337k median).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Starksboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
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 | Walpole | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
3,690 |
1,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Starksboro and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2Lowest 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% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$82,188±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Starksboro 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±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$287,700±$42kLowest 14% 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±$181 10% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,306±$91Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Starksboro and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 92% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | 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 |
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.