Compare towns
Vergennes vs Exeter vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vergennes has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,565Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±2.1 20% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 5% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,000±$24kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$267Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,275±$181 10% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,578Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | Vergennes Union High School | Exeter High School | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.