Compare towns
Lincoln vs Walden vs Ripton vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Tunbridge has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Walden | Ripton | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394Highest |
1,037 |
508Lowest |
1,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Lincoln 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% |
20.9%±1.6 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% |
42.9% 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% |
3.6%±2 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 |
$89,464±$26k 10% 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 |
$315,300±$23k about the VT 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 29% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
— | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Walden 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest 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 |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Walden 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.