Compare towns
Lincoln vs Williston 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 most homeowners (88.1%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($337k median).
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 | Williston | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,778 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Bristol 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Lincoln 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school 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 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.