Compare towns
Bristol vs Windham vs Vergennes
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 oldest population (median age 47.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Vergennes has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778 |
16,038Highest |
2,565Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.6±2.1 20% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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% |
15.2%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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. |
$76,587±$13k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$310,000±$24kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181 10% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,000±$267Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,578Lowest 79% 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% |
41.9%±17.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Windham School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Windham High School | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.