Compare towns

Lincoln vs Stoneham vs Bristol

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($451k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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.

MeasureLincolnStonehamBristol
People
Population
22,864
23,355Highest
22,220Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.2Highest
12% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
43±2.2
11% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
12.9%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lincoln and Stoneham 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%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
18.6%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,821±$15k
30% above U.S.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$97,764±$8kLowest
21% above U.S.
Stoneham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$450,600±$17kLowest
35% above U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$485,000±$25k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,468±$152Lowest
4% above U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,579±$118
12% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,751Lowest
52% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$5,393
73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.4%±9.8
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stoneham 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%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
66.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±3.4
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #21 of 38 in RI #117 of 282 in MA #20 of 38 in RI
School district Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy Stoneham Bristol Warren
High school in town Lincoln Senior High School Stoneham High Mt. Hope High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
10.7Lowest
12.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.