Compare towns
Ripton vs Reading vs Montpelier 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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
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 | Reading | Montpelier | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
699 |
8,014Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Montpelier 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$365,200±$30kLowest 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Montpelier and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 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 |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Reading 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.