Compare towns
Lincoln vs Plainfield vs Brookfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,394 |
1,016Lowest |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
47±5.9Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Brookfield 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% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield 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% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookfield 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±$30kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$339,300±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Lincoln and Brookfield 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. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$975±$306Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield 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. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,560 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lincoln and Plainfield 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.