Compare towns
Lincoln vs Brookfield vs Ripton vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Ripton | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,486Highest |
508Lowest |
1,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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 |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% 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 | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
— | $1,000±$546Highest 19% below VT |
| Cavendish and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.