Compare towns
Bristol vs Brighton vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Bristol | Brighton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,167Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Bristol and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$870±$47 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Brighton School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.