Compare towns

Ripton vs Thetford 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%).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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.

MeasureRiptonThetfordLincoln
People
Population
508Lowest
2,813Highest
1,394
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+7.2%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
43.6±6.2Lowest
about the VT average
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%
15.4%±4.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Thetford 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%
20.8%±6Lowest
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%
68%Highest
VT: 43.8%
43.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
6.7%±4.5
VT: 7%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$88,045±$16kLowest
8% above 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
$329,500±$96kLowest
4% above 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 —
$1,141±$96Highest
8% below VT
$870±$47Lowest
29% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$6,948Highest
38% above VT
$6,100
21% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
49.7%±30.1
VT: 48.4%
49.1%±25.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Thetford 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%
VT: 10.1%
7.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
4% below VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
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 — #40 of 70 in VT —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Thetford School District Lincoln Town School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.