Compare towns
Lincoln vs Castleton vs Ripton vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
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 | Castleton | Ripton | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
4,453Highest |
508Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 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+ | 43.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.