Compare towns
Lincoln vs Orford vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Lincoln | Orford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,461 |
1,295Lowest |
2,239Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±10.1Lowest 8% above NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Orford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and Orford 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 NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Orford and Sutton 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 29% below NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$362,600±$16kHighest 10% below NH |
| Sutton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln and Sutton 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | Rivendell Academy | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4Lowest |
9.5 |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.