Compare towns
Lincoln vs Dover vs Bristol
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 highest household income ($97k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
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 | Dover | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394Lowest |
1,466 |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Dover and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.