What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

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	Needham
People
Population	22,864Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Needham 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%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lincoln and Needham 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.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kLowest 35% above U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Lowest 4% above U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#21 of 38 in RI	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Needham
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.9Lowest
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.