Cost of Living & Housing in Bristol
Bristol's cost of living centers on a real, disclosed cross-source spread on home prices and a genuinely, substantially above-average local property tax rate worth understanding directly before you commit to a target price range.
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Learn moreA real, disclosed spread on Bristol home prices
Redfin's own June 2026 ZIP-level median SALE price for Bristol ran $515,000 (sale-to-list ratio 96.9%), while separately cited Zillow ($395,776 average value) and Ownwell ($222,900 assessed-basis median value) figures ran materially lower -- a real, disclosed three-way spread this record does not force to one number, plausibly reflecting sale-price vs. average-value vs. assessed-value methodology differences (base record). Confirm current, specific listings directly given this spread.
A substantially above-average local property tax rate
Bristol's own cited Ownwell effective property tax rate (2.52%) runs genuinely, substantially above both the national median (~1.02%) and Vermont's own statewide Tax Foundation anchor (1.51%) -- a real, disclosed, unflattering town-specific figure, producing an Ownwell-cited median annual tax bill of $5,383 on Ownwell's own $222,900 median home value figure (base record).
Vermont's statewide graduated income tax and sales tax apply in Bristol
Vermont's real, current, graduated individual income tax runs 3.35% to an 8.75% top marginal rate, and applies in Bristol as it does statewide, alongside a 6.00%-7.00% combined sales tax range (base record).
Confirm current listings and a comprehensive employer list directly
Given the real, disclosed housing-price spread and this pass's gap on a comprehensive Bristol-specific employer list beyond its historic downtown-commercial core, confirm current listings and job-market data directly with Addison County resources.
Key takeaways
- Bristol's median home price is cited anywhere from $222,900 to $515,000 depending on source -- a real, disclosed cross-source spread.
- Bristol's own 2.52% effective property tax rate runs well above both the national and Vermont statewide medians.
- Vermont's graduated income tax (3.35%-8.75% top marginal) and 6.00%-7.00% combined sales tax apply in Bristol as they do statewide.
- Confirm current listings and local employment data directly given this pass's disclosed gaps.
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