Compare towns
Bristol vs Guilford 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).
Guilford has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Guilford | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
2,461 |
1,394Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Bristol and Guilford 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% |
17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford 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% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln and Guilford 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 |
$312,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$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±$181 3% above VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Guilford and Bristol 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 |
$5,827Lowest 16% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 Our Story | 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.