What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erwin has the shortest commute (15 min average).

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Erwin	Lincoln
People
Population	7,965Highest	1,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2Lowest 13% above U.S.	45.7±3.6Highest 17% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Erwin and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lincoln and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Erwin and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,333±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.	$96,667±$18kHighest 20% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,700±$26kLowest 33% below U.S.	$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$136Highest 10% below U.S.	$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,829Lowest 87% above U.S.	$6,100Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Erwin and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 43% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#431 of 484 in NY	—
School district	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	Lincoln Town School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.