Compare towns
Bristol vs Plainfield vs Windham 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Lincoln has the most homeowners (88.1%).
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 | Plainfield | Windham | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,314 |
594Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Bristol 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$8k 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln and Windham 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 |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
| Lincoln and Windham 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Lincoln 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 |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.