Moving to Bristol, Vermont

by btobers · Published July 1, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Bristol is a small town in Addison County, Vermont, located at the foot of the Green Mountains. It is situated on the New Haven River, which flows through town and provides a natural beauty to the area. The climate in Bristol is typical of northern Vermont with cold winters and warm summers. The average temperature throughout the year is around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Bristol has a long history that dates back to its founding in 1762. It was originally settled by Revolutionary War veterans who were given land grants for their service. In the years since, Bristol has seen its population grow steadily as families have moved in to take advantage of the small town charm and outdoor recreation opportunities available nearby.

Politically, Bristol is part of Addison County and is represented by two members of the State House and one Senator in Montpelier. Economically, Bristol relies heavily on tourism as well as agriculture and manufacturing industries that have been established over time. The downtown area features many unique shops and restaurants that draw visitors from around the region during all seasons of the year.

The community also has several excellent schools which serve students from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. These include Mount Abraham Union High School, Bristol Elementary School, Holley Hall School, and Bristol Learning Center among others. Each school offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to meet student needs while preparing them for success after graduation from high school or college.

In addition to its educational offerings, Bristol boasts several landmarks that make it an attractive destination for tourists or residents alike. Among these are Mount Abraham Union High School’s football field which was built in 1925 and still hosts games today; Lake Dunmore which offers camping sites as well as fishing; New Haven River which runs through town; Robert Frost’s Homestead where he wrote several famous poems; Eagle Mountain which overlooks Lake Dunmore; The Town Common where local events are held throughout the year; as well as several historic buildings including churches, homes and other structures dating back to colonial times when it was first founded in 1762 making it one of Vermont’s oldest towns!

Population: 3,788. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,795 (+0.2% change)
Males: 1,853 (48.9%), Females: 1,935 (51.1%)

Addison County

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.1 years
Median household income: $43,250
Median house value: $112,300

Population by Race

Races in Bristol:

White Non-Hispanic (98.0%)
Two or more races (0.7%)
American Indian (0.6%)
Hispanic (0.5%)

Ancestries: French (19.3%), United States (15.3%), English (15.3%), Irish (14.9%), French Canadian (10.9%), German (7.3%).

Elevation: 571 feet

Population by Education

Bristol, Vermont is a small town located in Addison County. The population of Bristol was 2,438 according to the 2010 census. It is a rural town with a total area of 8.6 square miles. The population density was 283 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 95.4% White, 1.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.8% Asian and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population as well as 2% from other races and 6% from two or more races. The median age in Bristol was 43 years with 22% under the age of 18 and 13% over 65 years old. The median household income in Bristol was $48,818 and the median family income was $54,912. About 22 percent of families and 27 percent of individuals were below the poverty line including 38 percent under 18 years old and none over 64 years old living alone in poverty

For population 25 years and over in Bristol

High school or higher: 80.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.5%
Unemployed: 3.5%
Mean travel time to work: 26.5 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Bristol town

Never married: 23.7%
Now married: 57.3%
Separated: 1.2%
Widowed: 7.1%
Divorced: 10.7%

1.2% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -55 (-1.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Bristol:

PORTER MEDICAL CENTER INC (about 11 miles; MIDDLEBURY, VT)
VERMONT STATE HOSP DISTINCT PART UNIT (about 26 miles; WATERBURY, VT)
FLETCHER ALLEN HOSPITAL OF VERMONT (about 27 miles; BURLINGTON, VT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Bristol:

BURLINGTON INTL (about 24 miles; BURLINGTON, VT; Abbreviation: BTV)
RUTLAND STATE (about 44 miles; RUTLAND, VT; Abbreviation: RUT)
CLINTON CO (about 49 miles; PLATTSBURGH, NY; Abbreviation: PLB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Bristol:

MIDDLEBURY STATE (about 11 miles; MIDDLEBURY, VT; Abbreviation: 6B0)
BASIN HARBOR (about 18 miles; VERGENNES, VT; Abbreviation: B06)
WARREN-SUGARBUSH (about 19 miles; WARREN, VT; Abbreviation: 0B7)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Bristol:

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE (about 11 miles; MIDDLEBURY, VT; Full-time enrollment: 2,265)
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE AGRICULTURAL COLL (about 22 miles; BURLINGTON, VT; Full-time enrollment: 8,852)
SAINT MICHAELS COLLEGE (about 26 miles; COLCHESTER, VT; Full-time enrollment: 2,272)
NORWICH UNIVERSITY (about 29 miles; NORTHFIELD, VT; Full-time enrollment: 2,585)
SUNY COLLEGE AT PLATTSBURGH (about 47 miles; PLATTSBURGH, NY; Full-time enrollment: 5,601)
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE (about 64 miles; HANOVER, NH; Full-time enrollment: 5,309)
ADIRONDACK COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 69 miles; QUEENSBURY, NY; Full-time enrollment: 2,182)

Schools

Public high school in Bristol:

MOUNT ABRAHAM UHSD #28 (Students: 960; Location: 7 AIRPORT DRIVE; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Bristol:

BRISTOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 358; Location: 57 MOUNTAIN ST; Grades: KG – 06)
LINCOLN COMMUNITY SCHOOL (Students: 109; Location: 795 EAST RIVER ROAD; Grades: KG – 06)
ADDISON NORTHEAST S.U. (Location: 10 ORCHARD TERRACE PARK; Grades: PK – PK)

Private primary/middle schools in Bristol:

RED CEDAR SCHOOL (Students: 24; Location: BOX 393 HARD SCRABBLE ROAD; Grades: UG – UG)
THE RED CEDAR SCHOOL (Students: 22; Location: HARDSCRABBLE RD; Grades: UG – UG)

Libraries

Library in Bristol:

LAWRENCE MEMORIAL (Operating income: $95,400; Location: 40 NORTH ST.; 14,164 books; 403 audio materials; 829 video materials; 30 serial subscriptions)