Compare towns
Starksboro vs Ripton vs Bristol vs Cabot
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 youngest population (median age 38.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Cabot has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Ripton | Bristol | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,939 |
508Lowest |
3,778Highest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
40.3±6.6 6% below VT |
| Bristol and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
44.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
— | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,243±$354Lowest about the VT average |
| Starksboro and Bristol 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
30 minHighest 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.