Compare towns
Bristol vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Westminster | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
497Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Bristol and Lincoln 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$870±$47 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 19% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 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 |
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.