Compare towns
Ripton vs Wells River vs Lincoln vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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 | Wells River | Lincoln | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
340Lowest |
1,394Highest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below 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% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Wells River 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 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% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below 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 |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
$187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$336 27% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
| Hancock and Wells River 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 |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Ripton 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 | — | Lincoln Town School District | — |
| High school 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.