Compare towns
Lincoln vs Wells River 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 the highest household income ($97k).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k 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 | Wells River | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394 |
340Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol and Lincoln 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% |
17.1%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells River and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest 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 |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% 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 |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% 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 |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Bristol and Wells River 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 |
$4,154Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school 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 |
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.