Compare towns
Ripton vs Proctor vs Sheldon 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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 | — | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Ripton 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.



