Compare towns
Williston vs Windsor vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Williston | Windsor | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
3,554Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bristol and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.