What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Lincoln	Grafton
People
Population	1,749Lowest	1,859Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.6±2.3Highest 35% above NY	52.4±6.9Lowest 32% above NY
	Lincoln and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%	17.8%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Grafton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%	20%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	33%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Lincoln and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,100±$12kLowest 12% above NY	$100,809±$24kHighest 17% above NY
	Grafton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,100±$25kLowest 52% below NY	$216,800±$39kHighest 49% below NY
	Grafton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,196±$309Highest 26% below NY	$1,112±$329Lowest 31% below NY
	Lincoln and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,800Highest 42% below NY	$3,452Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±65Highest NY: 52.1%	7.5%±46.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lincoln and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%	8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	93.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 21 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	7.4%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.7%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Grafton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.