Compare towns
Ripton vs Sutton vs Northfield 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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Sutton | Northfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
790 |
5,920Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Sutton 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%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% 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 | — | — | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Northfield and Lincoln 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
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| 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.