Compare towns
Lincoln vs Plainfield vs Windham 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 most expensive homes ($365k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Windham | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,314 |
594Lowest |
1,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Plainfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Windham 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Starksboro and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Lincoln and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Lincoln and Windham 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
| Starksboro and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | — | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school 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.