Compare towns
Manchester vs Dummerston vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
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 | Manchester | Dummerston | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
2,090Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.9±4.8 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%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 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±$23k 17% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Dummerston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 18% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.