What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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	Lyme
People
Population	1,394Lowest	1,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S.	48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S.
	Lyme 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 U.S.: 22%	19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lyme and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lyme 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lyme 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 20% above U.S.	$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,200±$30kLowest 10% above U.S.	$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Lowest 96% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyme and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyme 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	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.