Compare towns
Lincoln vs South Hero 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).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | South Hero | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,586Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| South Hero 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% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18kLowest 19% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| South Hero 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 |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 21% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero 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 | South Hero School District | 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 Our Story | 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.