Compare towns
Ripton vs Bath vs Strafford vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Ripton | Bath | Strafford | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,097 |
1,372 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Bath and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,413Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,100 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bath School District | Strafford School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.