Compare towns
Bristol vs Windham 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 renters (28.7% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
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 | Windham | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
16,038Highest |
1,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bristol and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$82,188±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$287,700±$42kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,306±$91 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Starksboro 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Windham School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.