Compare towns
Lincoln vs Walden 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 kids (15.1% under 18).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Walden | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394Highest |
1,037 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Walden 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% 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 |
$900±$136Highest 27% below VT |
— |
| Walden 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.