What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lincoln	Valley Falls
People
Population	22,864Highest	12,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+4.7%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.7±2.2Highest 8% above RI	41.7±3.5Lowest about the RI average
	Lincoln and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Lowest RI: 18.8%	25%±4.4Highest RI: 18.8%
	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 RI: 18.7%	16.6%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest RI: 37.7%	29.1%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Highest RI: 8.3%	1.3%±0.8Lowest RI: 8.3%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,821±$15kHighest 19% above RI	$92,901±$17kLowest 6% above RI
	Lincoln and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kHighest 11% above RI	$375,200±$19kLowest 7% below RI
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Highest 9% above RI	$1,362±$142Lowest about the RI average
	Lincoln and Valley Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,751Highest 3% below RI	$4,397Lowest 10% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Lowest RI: 48%	46.4%±17.7Highest RI: 48%
	Valley Falls 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 RI: 11.2%	4.1%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Highest RI: 63.6%	67.8%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 8 yrs newer than RI	1963Lowest 1 yr newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 5% below RI	23 minLowest 9% below RI
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Highest RI: 13%	9.9%±4.4Lowest RI: 13%
	Lincoln and Valley Falls 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	—
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	—
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.