Compare towns
Lincoln vs Reading vs Stratton vs Ripton
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 affordable homes ($365k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Stratton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394Highest |
699 |
532 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30kLowest 15% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Stratton and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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 |
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.