Compare towns
Lincoln vs Sheffield 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 people working from home (18.8%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Sheffield | Ripton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
573 |
508Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol 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% |
17.1%±6.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 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% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,620±$8k 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% 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 |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
— | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% 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% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | — | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 | 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.