Compare towns
Manchester vs Mount Tabor 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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Mount Tabor has the most homeowners (92.3%).
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.
| Measure | Manchester | Mount Tabor | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
304Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Manchester 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Manchester 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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±$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 |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| Manchester and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 18% above VT |
$5,233Lowest 4% above VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 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 | 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.