Compare towns
Starksboro vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Sheldon | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,939Lowest |
2,267 |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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±$15kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Starksboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
| Bristol and Starksboro 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,275±$181Lowest 3% above VT |
| Starksboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Starksboro 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.