Compare towns
Ripton vs Wardsboro vs Wheelock 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%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
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 | Wardsboro | Wheelock | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
820 |
717 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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 | — | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 | 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.