Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Lincoln vs Ripton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Fair Haven | Lincoln | Ripton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724Highest |
1,394 |
508Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$870±$47 29% below VT |
— | $891±$266Highest 28% below VT |
| Franklin and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Franklin 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lincoln Town School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.