Compare towns
Danby vs Bristol vs Wells vs Addison
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 people working from home (17.9%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Addison has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Danby | Bristol | Wells | Addison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
3,778Highest |
1,148 |
1,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
| Addison and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Addison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Addison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Addison and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT |
| Addison and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
| Addison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,831 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Addison 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.



