What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($342k median).

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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	Lincoln	Dorset
People
Population	1,461Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±10.1Highest 20% above U.S.	45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dorset and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lincoln and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dorset and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S.	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Dorset and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,000±$38kLowest about the U.S. average	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,143±$498Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average
	Dorset and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S.	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dorset and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	Lin-Wood Public School (High)	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	7.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.