Compare towns
Lincoln vs Waitsfield vs Brookfield
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 youngest population (median age 45.7).
Waitsfield has the most renters (66.2% rent).
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Waitsfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394 |
193Lowest |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield 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 |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$339,300±$15kLowest 7% above VT |
| Waitsfield 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 |
— | $975±$306Highest 21% below VT |
| Brookfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,688 7% below VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.