Compare towns
Lincoln vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Starksboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Ripton | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
16,151Highest |
508Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$82,188±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$287,700±$42kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,306±$91 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 96% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.