The Town FilesBristol, Vermont
Town in Addison County · population 3,782 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $337,300
- Household income
- $74,620
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 113 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 47.9
Bristol is a town of 3,782 people in Addison County, Vermont. The median home is worth $337,300, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Vermont towns, better for cycling than 91% of Vermont towns, more walkable than 82% of Vermont towns.
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $337,300, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $74,620, which is more affordable than 19% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,275 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $337,300 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,275 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $74,620 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.9% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 89.3% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 112.5 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 18, 2026 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 23, 2012.
Severe weather in Addison County since 1996
Addison County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| October 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4744: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Addison County
Addison County had 15,525 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,042 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Bristol
2 public schools with 964 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Abraham Union High School | 7-12 | 570 | 10.8 |
| Bristol Elementary School | PK-6 | 394 | 17.9 |
Towns near Bristol
- Middlebury, VT7.5 mi · 9,152 people · home $409,700
- Middlebury, VT8.2 mi · 7,304 people · home $417,400
- Vergennes, VT11.3 mi · 2,553 people · home $310,000
- Ferrisburgh, VT13.5 mi · 2,646 people · home $422,700
- Hinesburg, VT16.3 mi · 4,698 people · home $463,400
- Charlotte, VT17.1 mi · 3,912 people · home $695,300
- Northfield, VT18.1 mi · 5,918 people · home $274,400
- Northfield, VT19.7 mi · 3,757 people · home $241,400
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 47% of Vermont towns and quieter than 22%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $337,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,620, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,275 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 112.5 inches of snow.
Does Bristol get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 18, 2026. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)