Compare towns

Vergennes vs Guilford 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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.

MeasureVergennesGuilfordBristol
People
Population
2,565
2,461Lowest
3,778Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
VT: +2.8%
0%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.6±2.1Lowest
8% above VT
46.7±5.2
8% above VT
47.9±4.8Highest
11% above VT
Bristol and Guilford 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%
17.5%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Guilford 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%
27.6%±4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.9%±4.8
VT: 21.4%
Guilford 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%
44.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.4Lowest
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±$13kHighest
6% below VT
$75,243±$6k
7% below VT
$74,620±$8kLowest
8% below VT
Vergennes and Guilford 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
$312,600±$39k
about the VT average
$337,300±$46kHighest
7% above VT
Bristol and Guilford 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
$1,283±$273Highest
4% above VT
$1,275±$181
3% above VT
Guilford and Bristol 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
$5,827
16% above VT
$5,978Highest
19% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±17.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
47.9%±14.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Bristol and Guilford 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%
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
10.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.1%
VT: 73.2%
80.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
71.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
9% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
25 min
5% above VT
Work from home
16%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.7%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±6.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Bristol and Guilford 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 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.