Compare towns
Bristol vs Lincoln vs Olean vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Lincoln | Olean | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778 |
1,394 |
13,738Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8k 8% below U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 10% below U.S. |
$870±$47 38% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 92% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Lincoln Town School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.