Compare towns
Vergennes vs Dummerston 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 the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Dummerston | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,565 |
2,090Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±2.1 8% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| 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%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Vergennes 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
| Bristol and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Dummerston and Bristol 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±17.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.