Compare towns
Bennington vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Bennington | Worcester | Ripton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.8±10.1 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$342,000±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,143±$498 19% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.