What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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	Plainville
People
Population	22,864Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.7±2.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Plainville and Lincoln 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%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lincoln and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainville and Lincoln 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.	$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kHighest 35% above U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Lowest 52% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln and Plainville 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%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Lowest 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 minHighest 8% below U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.4Lowest
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.