Photo: Rania al-Bahara · CC BY-SA 4.0Bristol spent less per resident in 2022 than 96% of similar towns
Bristol’s town government spent $1.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $499 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau. Water and other utilities ($176,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Bristol is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$499 per resident in 2022: less than 96% of them
Bristol’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($499 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 24 Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,077, and the middle half spent $821–$1,428. Bristol spent less than 96% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($50,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Bristol itself left out).
About $499 per resident a year, or $1.37 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 33%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Bristol collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.
No trend yet
Bristol reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau (2024 is an estimate), so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $5,978 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.77% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Bristol’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Bristol’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Bristol →
Most Vermont towns vote on March 2, 2027
Check Bristol’s own dates: some towns hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2).
Bristol’s meetings aren’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on its website.
Town website ↗Vermont’s Town Meeting Day is the first Tuesday in March, when towns vote on budgets and elect officers.
Some towns hold the business session on another day, and some vote by ballot (SB2). Check Bristol’s site for its warrant and dates.
Who’s in charge in Bristol
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 274 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (3,838).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Mt. Abraham Unified School District
Bristol’s K–12 school district, shared with Monkton, New Haven, Starksboro. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $28,516 per pupil, $13,807 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Bristol voted in 2024
Official results for Bristol’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat63.9%1,493 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican32.4%756 votesOthers: 3.7% (87 votes).
Most votes in Bristol: Kamala D Harris
Addison County: Harris 65.8%, Trump 30.3% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%
of Bristol’s 3,237 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Bristol: Bernie Sanders
Addison County: Sanders 64.5%, Malloy 31.5% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%
Most votes in Bristol: Phil Scott
Addison County: Scott 72.6%, Charlestin 24.1% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%
Most votes in the district: Becca Balint
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Bristol, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 63.9% | 32.4% | 3.7% | 2,336 |
| Addison County | 65.8% | 30.3% | 3.9% | 22,607 |
| Vermont | 63.8% | 32.3% | 3.9% | 369,422 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Bristol.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: bristolvt.org ↗
- 2Vermont HouseState representatives
- 3Vermont SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Bristol compares with the towns next door
Bristol spent $499 per resident in 2022; the 2 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $931 to $1,060. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Ripton | $931 | $4,915 |
| Lincoln | $1,060 | $6,100 |
| New Haven | estimate | $5,967 |
| Middlebury | estimate | $6,868 |
| Starksboro | estimate | $4,536 |
| Monkton | estimate | $5,887 |
| Bristol | $499 | $5,978 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Bristol’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Bristol’s government
How much does Bristol spend per resident?
About $499 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $499 was less than 96% of 24 Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Bristol?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,978 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.77% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see bristolvt.org.
Who runs Bristol’s government?
See bristolvt.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bristol yet.
How did Bristol vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 63.9%, Donald J Trump 32.4% (2,336 votes, official results). Addison County: Harris 65.8%, Trump 30.3%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.
How many people work for Bristol?
14 full-time and 10 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $75,022 (about $900,264 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Bristol in the state legislature?
State Senate District Addison (Ruth Hardy and Steven Heffernan) and State House District Addison-4 (Herb Olson and Karen Lueders). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
When is town meeting in Bristol?
Most Vermont towns vote on the first Tuesday in March (March 2, 2027). Some hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2), so check bristolvt.org for Bristol’s own dates.
Ask neighbors about Bristol’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →