Compare towns
Lincoln vs Fairfax 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
Fairfax has the highest household income ($129k).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Tunbridge has the most affordable homes ($315k 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 | Fairfax | Ripton | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
5,226Highest |
508Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Tunbridge 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$89,464±$26kLowest 10% above VT |
| Fairfax and Ripton 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 |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$315,300±$23kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfax 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 |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
— | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,645Lowest 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Tunbridge 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Fairfax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.