Compare towns
Starksboro vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Bristol has the most expensive 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 | Starksboro | Waterville | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,939 |
680Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Waterville and Bristol 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Bristol 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Starksboro and Bristol 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% 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 |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% 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 | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.