Compare towns
Vergennes vs Bristol vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vergennes has the most kids (15.2% under 18).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Bristol | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,565Lowest |
3,778Highest |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±2.1 8% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Vergennes and Royalton 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% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton 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 |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below 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±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Bristol and Royalton 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 |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Vergennes are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | Vergennes Union High School | Mt. Abraham Union High School | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.