Compare towns
Lincoln vs Dorset vs Ripton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Dorset | Ripton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
2,092Highest |
508Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±5.9 9% 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Brookfield 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18kLowest 19% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Ripton and Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$339,300±$15kLowest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
— | $975±$306 21% below VT |
| Dorset and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 21% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ripton 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.