Compare towns
Lincoln vs Milton vs Ripton 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 the most people working from home (18.8%).
Milton has the most kids (17.6% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Milton | Ripton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
10,769Highest |
508Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Ripton 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% |
17.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Milton and Lincoln 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% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Milton 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 |
$372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Milton 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 |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
— | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Milton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$5,610 11% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton 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% |
3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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 | — | #56 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.