Compare towns
Ripton vs Dummerston vs Charlotte 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
Lincoln has the most renters (11.9% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Charlotte | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,090 |
3,916Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Charlotte 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Charlotte 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$96,667±$18kLowest 19% above VT |
| Charlotte and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Charlotte and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.