Compare towns
Lincoln vs Braintree vs Starksboro vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Lincoln | Braintree | Starksboro | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,026 |
1,939Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% 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 | $870±$47 29% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.