Compare towns
Bristol vs Townshend 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Lincoln has the highest household income ($97k).
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 | Townshend | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,538 |
1,394Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Highest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$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±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Bristol and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Lincoln 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
8.1Lowest |
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| 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.