Compare towns
Lincoln vs Randolph vs Ripton 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 the most kids (15.1% under 18).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Randolph | Ripton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
2,007 |
508Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Randolph and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
24.2%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Randolph 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% |
42.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$75,069±$11k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| 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 15% above VT |
$235,400±$25kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
— | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol and Randolph 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 |
$4,507Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.