Compare towns
Lincoln vs Milton vs Ripton vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
10,769Highest |
508Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Milton 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% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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% |
45.3% 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% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18kLowest 19% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above 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 |
$339,300±$15kLowest 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 |
— | $975±$306 21% below VT |
| Milton and Brookfield 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,560Lowest 10% below 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% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% 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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | #56 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.