Compare towns
Lincoln vs Olean vs Ripton vs Starksboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Olean | Ripton | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
13,738Highest |
508Lowest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
38.2±4.8Lowest about the U.S. 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Starksboro and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$82,188±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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 10% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$287,700±$42k 14% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47 38% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— | $1,306±$91Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln and Starksboro 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.