What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Plainfield
People
Population	22,864Highest	15,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.7±2.2Highest 12% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lincoln and Plainfield 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%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,821±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Highest 52% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest 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.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln and Plainfield 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	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	10.3Lowest
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.