Compare towns
Bristol vs Lincoln vs Sutton
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).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,394 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Bristol and Sutton 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% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Lincoln 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% |
22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
43.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest 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±$8k 8% below VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below 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 |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below 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 |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest 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% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | Lincoln Town School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.