Compare towns
Manchester vs Norwich 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).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Norwich | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486Highest |
3,640Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 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% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest 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±$23k 17% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 44% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Norwich and Bristol 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 39% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Norwich School District | 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.