Compare towns
Ripton vs Jay vs Waltham 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Jay | Waltham | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
471 |
452Lowest |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Waltham and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Waltham 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Waltham 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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 |
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.