Compare towns
Vergennes vs Braintree vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vergennes has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Vergennes | Braintree | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,565 |
1,026Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±2.1Lowest 8% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Vergennes and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,587±$13k 6% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Braintree and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,000±$24k about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$267 19% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,578 11% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | #22 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Vergennes Union High School | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.