Compare towns
Bristol vs Ripton vs Mendon 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Lincoln has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Ripton | Mendon | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Mendon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Mendon 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| 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 3% above VT |
— | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Bristol and Mendon 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 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.