Compare towns
Ripton vs Putney vs Jay 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Putney | Jay | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
2,622Highest |
471Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% 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 | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $870±$47Highest 29% below VT |
| Lincoln and Putney 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Lincoln 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None 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.