Compare towns
Lincoln vs Middlesex vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Middlesex | Reading | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,943 |
699Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Reading and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Middlesex and Bristol 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None 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 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.