Compare towns
Ripton vs Colrain vs Lincoln vs Hancock
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 the highest household income ($113k).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Ripton | Colrain | Lincoln | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
1,627Highest |
1,394 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Ripton 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% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock and Colrain 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% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$939±$19 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 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 | Mohawk Trail | Lincoln Town School District | — |
| High school 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.