Compare towns
Lincoln vs Reading vs Worcester 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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Reading | Worcester | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
699Lowest |
831 |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
| Reading and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Lincoln 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%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bristol 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Lincoln and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None 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.