What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($365k median).

Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).

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	Barnard
People
Population	1,394Highest	1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±3.6Highest 6% above VT	42.4±6Lowest about the VT average
	Lincoln and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4%	22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Lincoln and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	55.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Lincoln and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,667±$18kLowest 19% above VT	$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT
	Barnard and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,200±$30kLowest 15% above VT	$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT
	Barnard and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT	$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Highest 21% above VT	$6,038Lowest 20% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4%	27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lincoln and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 26% above VT	29 minLowest 21% above VT
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Barnard and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lincoln Town School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT 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.