What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

Bristol has the most renters (33.9% rent).

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	Bristol
People
Population	22,864Highest	22,220Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	-2%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.7±2.2Highest 8% above RI	43±2.2Lowest 6% above RI
	Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8%	12.9%±1.9Lowest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	24%±2.7Highest RI: 18.7%	22.9%±2Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest RI: 37.7%	47.6%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Lowest RI: 8.3%	18.6%±1.4Highest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,821±$15kHighest 19% above RI	$97,764±$8kLowest 11% above RI
	Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kLowest 11% above RI	$485,000±$25kHighest 20% above RI
	Bristol and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Lowest 9% above RI	$1,579±$118Highest 18% above RI
	Bristol and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Lowest 3% below RI	$5,393Highest 10% above RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Highest RI: 48%	37.9%±8.1Lowest RI: 48%
	Lincoln and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest RI: 11.2%	6.5%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Highest RI: 63.6%	66.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI	1964Lowest 2 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	25 minHighest about the RI average
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Highest RI: 13%	11.2%±2.7Lowest RI: 13%
	Lincoln and Bristol 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	#21 of 38 in RI	#20 of 38 in RI
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Bristol Warren
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Mt. Hope High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.