Compare towns
Ripton vs Topsham vs Walden 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%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Lincoln has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Topsham | Walden | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
999 |
1,037 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden 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%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Topsham 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% 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 | — | $908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Topsham and Walden 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 |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.