Compare towns
Lincoln vs Springfield vs Sutton 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bristol has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Springfield | Sutton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
9,084Highest |
790Lowest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Sutton 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Sutton 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Lincoln 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% above VT |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
— | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Lincoln 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.