Compare towns
Ripton vs Lincoln vs Hancock vs Bristol
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).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
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 | Lincoln | Hancock | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
1,394 |
435Lowest |
3,778Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
| Bristol 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% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below VT |
| 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 25% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$337,300±$46k 7% 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 | — | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,978 19% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 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% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Bristol 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 | — | — | — | #31 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lincoln Town School District | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Mt. Abraham Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.