Compare towns
Ripton vs Elmore vs Williston 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%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Elmore | Williston | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
964 |
10,144Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Williston 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$96,667±$18kLowest 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 min 25% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 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 | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | 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 Our Story | 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.