What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).

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	Westerly
People
Population	22,864Lowest	23,333Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%
Median age	43.7±2.2Lowest 8% above RI	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI
Kids under 18	21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8%	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	24%±2.7Lowest RI: 18.7%	26.4%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7%
	Westerly and Lincoln 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 RI: 37.7%	45.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.8Highest RI: 8.3%	5%±1.5Lowest RI: 8.3%
	Lincoln and Westerly 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 19% above RI	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% above RI
	Lincoln and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$450,600±$17kLowest 11% above RI	$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI
	Westerly and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,468±$152Highest 9% above RI	$1,257±$131Lowest 6% below RI
	Lincoln and Westerly 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	$3,847Lowest 21% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±9.8Lowest RI: 48%	46.6%±10.4Highest RI: 48%
	Westerly 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%	5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%	74.7%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI	1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 5% below RI	24 minLowest 5% below RI
Work from home	13.3%±3.4Highest RI: 13%	11.5%±2.5Lowest RI: 13%
	Lincoln and Westerly 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	#25 of 38 in RI
School district	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy	Westerly
High school in town	Lincoln Senior High School	Westerly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	9.6Lowest
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.