Compare towns
Lincoln vs Middlesex vs Williston vs Starksboro
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 oldest population (median age 45.7).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Middlesex | Williston | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394Lowest |
1,943 |
10,144Highest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Lincoln and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Lincoln and Williston 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$82,188±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 21% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.