Compare towns
New Haven vs Reading vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Haven has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | New Haven | Reading | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,792 |
699Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48±3.9 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.9±4.8Lowest 11% above VT |
| Reading and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,321±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| New Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,300±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| New Haven and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$143 6% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol and New Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,967 18% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.1%±6.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 History | 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.