Compare towns
Manchester vs Mapleton vs Union vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.9±4.8 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,275±$181Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 90% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,978Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None 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 History | None yet | 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.