Compare towns
Lincoln vs Unity vs Ripton vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most kids (15.1% under 18).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Ripton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,375 |
508Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
47.9±4.8 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| 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 10% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$337,300±$46k about the U.S. average |
| 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 38% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,275±$181 10% below U.S. |
| Unity and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity 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 | 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 |
U.S. 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.