Compare towns
Unity vs Bristol vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Unity | Bristol | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
3,778Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.9±4.8Lowest 23% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Washington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,275±$181 10% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,978Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Washington 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 | Unity School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.