Compare towns
Bristol vs White River Junction
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 homeowners (71.3%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and White River Junction 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 7% above VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| Bristol and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
| Bristol and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and White River Junction 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 | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.