What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lincoln	Orwell
People
Population	1,394Highest	1,294Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT	47.5±7Highest 10% above VT
	Orwell 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%	21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orwell and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4%	24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Orwell 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 VT: 43.8%	22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Orwell 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 19% above VT	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT
	Lincoln and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT	$335,600±$25kLowest 6% above VT
	Lincoln and Orwell 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	$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Highest 21% above VT	$3,914Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell 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%	10.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 26% above VT	27 minLowest 15% above VT
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Lincoln and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lincoln Town School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
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.