Compare towns
Wallingford vs Bristol vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Bristol | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286 |
3,778Highest |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Bristol and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15kHighest about the VT average |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Wallingford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Bristol and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95 28% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol and Whitingham 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.