Compare towns
Lincoln vs Ripton vs Wells
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%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394Highest |
508Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% 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 |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Ripton 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.