What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($337k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Manchester	Bristol
People
Population	4,486Highest	3,778Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT	47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT
	Manchester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Manchester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Manchester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3Highest VT: 7%	5.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Manchester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT
	Manchester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT	$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT
	Bristol and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,923Lowest 18% above VT	$5,978Highest 19% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4%	47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Manchester and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 39% below VT	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Manchester 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	#37 of 70 in VT	#31 of 70 in VT
School district	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61
High school in town	None 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.