Compare towns
Lincoln vs Putnam vs Ripton vs Brookfield
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 youngest population (median age 45.7).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
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 | Putnam | Ripton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
540 |
508Lowest |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Ripton 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$339,300±$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. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | — | $975±$306Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.