Compare towns
Lincoln vs Sutton vs Valley Falls
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Valley Falls has the most affordable homes ($375k 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.
| Measure | Lincoln | Sutton | Valley Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,864Highest |
9,452Lowest |
12,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.2 12% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.7±3.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Valley Falls 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lincoln and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,821±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$92,901±$17kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,600±$17k 35% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$375,200±$19kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,468±$152Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,362±$142 4% below U.S. |
| Lincoln and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,751 52% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,397Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.4%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Valley Falls 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #21 of 38 in RI | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Lincoln Senior High School | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.