What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Putnam
People
Population	1,394Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam 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%	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Putnam 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%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lincoln and Putnam 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 20% above U.S.	$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Putnam 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.	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47 38% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lincoln and Putnam 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%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lincoln Town School District	PUTNAM CENTRAL 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.