Compare towns
Vergennes vs Bristol vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering VergennesFerrisburgh
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).
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,565 |
3,778Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.6±2.1Lowest 8% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
| Waltham 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±$24kLowest about the VT average |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% 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 | $1,000±$267Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
| Bristol and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,578Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | — |
| High school in town | Vergennes Union High School | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.