Compare towns
Ripton vs Gardner 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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Gardner | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
21,148Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Lincoln 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above 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. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above 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 | — | $1,109±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Gardner | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.