What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($451k median).

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Canton
People
Population	22,864Lowest	24,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S.	42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Canton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lincoln and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,821±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kLowest 35% above U.S.	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S.	$6,560Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#21 of 38 in RI	#81 of 282 in MA
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	13.1Lowest
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.