Compare towns
Bristol vs Dedham vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Bristol | Dedham | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,220Lowest |
25,237Highest |
22,864 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±2.2 12% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lincoln and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,764±$8kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$25k 46% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$450,600±$17kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,579±$118 12% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,468±$152Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,393 73% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA | #21 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bristol Warren | Dedham | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy |
| High school in town | Mt. Hope High School | Dedham High | Lincoln Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.