Compare towns
Brookfield vs Whately 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
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Brookfield | Whately | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,499Highest |
1,394Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 21% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Whately and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Whately and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 31% below U.S. |
$977±$125Highest 31% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Whately and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lincoln and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Whately | 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 |
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.