Compare towns
Ripton vs Randolph vs Plainfield 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%).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Randolph | Plainfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,314 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Plainfield 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Randolph 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% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% 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 |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$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 | — | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Randolph and Plainfield 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 |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| 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 | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.