What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chenango has the most affordable homes ($172k 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	Chenango
People
Population	1,394Lowest	10,787Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±3.6Highest 17% above U.S.	41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chenango and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chenango 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±$18kHighest 20% above U.S.	$86,646±$9kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S.	$172,000±$9kLowest 48% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,038±$97Highest 27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,700Lowest 19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.7%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln and Chenango 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	—	#233 of 484 in NY
School district	Lincoln Town School District	CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.