What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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	Calais
People
Population	1,394Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±3.6Highest 6% above VT	42±8.6Lowest about the VT average
	Lincoln and Calais 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%	22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Calais and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Lincoln and Calais 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%	55.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%
	Calais and Lincoln 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	$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT
	Calais 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	$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT
	Calais 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	$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Lowest 21% above VT	$6,586Highest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4%	49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lincoln and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 26% above VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Calais 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.