Compare towns
Bristol vs Worcester vs Vergennes
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 expensive homes ($337k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Vergennes has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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 | Worcester | Vergennes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
831Lowest |
2,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
46.6±2.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Bristol and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Vergennes 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$76,587±$13kHighest 6% below VT |
| Vergennes 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$310,000±$24k about the VT average |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,000±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
| Bristol and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,578 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Vergennes 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #22 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Vergennes Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.