Compare towns
Bristol vs Waltham 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 renters (28.7% rent).
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% 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.
| Measure | Bristol | Waltham | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
452Lowest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
46.7±5.2Lowest 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
| Bristol and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% 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 |
$5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$5,827 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 History | 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.