Compare towns
Ripton vs Waitsfield 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%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Waitsfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,918Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$365,200±$30kLowest 15% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Lincoln 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.