Compare towns
Starksboro vs Barnard vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Starksboro | Barnard | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,939 |
1,211Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Barnard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$91 6% above VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT |
| Barnard and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Starksboro 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 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.