Compare towns
Lincoln vs Olean vs Ripton vs Grand Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Grand Isle has the most kids (19.8% 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.
| Measure | Lincoln | Olean | Ripton | Grand Isle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,664 |
508Lowest |
2,192Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
53.8±5.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.3±2.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Olean and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grand Isle and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$74,583±$20kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$100,846±$22k 25% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Grand Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
$158,600±$17kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$398,600±$33kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Grand Isle and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$47 38% below U.S. |
$666±$334Lowest 53% below U.S. |
— | $1,363±$530Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Grand Isle and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,027Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,453 75% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln and Grand Isle 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Lincoln Town School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.