Compare towns
Ripton vs Plainfield vs Braintree 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Lincoln has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Plainfield | Braintree | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,314 |
1,026 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Lincoln 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$96,667±$18k 19% above 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below 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 | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$870±$47 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Lincoln 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.