Compare towns
Lincoln vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Starksboro
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 people working from home (18.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Plainfield | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
1,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below 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 |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
| Starksboro and Plainfield 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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 | — | 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.