Compare towns
Starksboro vs Waltham 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 kids (26.4% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,939 |
452Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
| Bristol and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| 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 |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school 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.