Compare towns
Lincoln vs Dover vs Bristol vs Ripton
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 most kids (15.1% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,466 |
3,778Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% 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 |
47.7±14.2 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% |
11.8%±6.3 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%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$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 |
$332,900±$55kLowest 5% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above 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 |
$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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.