Compare towns
Ripton vs Bristol vs Andover vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Lincoln has the most kids (15.1% 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 | Ripton | Bristol | Andover | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
3,778Highest |
616 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Andover and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$337,300±$46kLowest 7% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Andover and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,978 19% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | — | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.