Compare towns
Bristol vs Castleton vs Proctor 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 most renters (28.7% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Proctor | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778 |
4,453Highest |
1,794 |
1,394Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Bristol and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.