Compare towns
Lincoln vs Proctor vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267 |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Lincoln and Sheldon 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 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.