What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dorset has the most kids (24% 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	Dorset
People
Population	1,394Lowest	2,092Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT	45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT
	Dorset and Lincoln 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%	24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Dorset 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%	21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Lincoln and Dorset 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%	72.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Lincoln and Dorset 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	$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT
	Dorset 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	$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT	$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Lowest 21% above VT	$7,489Highest 49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Dorset and Lincoln 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%	11.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 26% above VT	22 minLowest 8% below VT
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Dorset 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	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.