What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k 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	South Hero
People
Population	1,394Lowest	1,586Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT
	South Hero and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9%	14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Lincoln and South Hero 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%	26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	South Hero 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 VT: 43.8%	61.9%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Lincoln and South Hero 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 19% above VT	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT
	South Hero 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±$30kLowest 15% above VT	$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT	$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Lowest 21% above VT	$7,858Highest 56% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4%	32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lincoln and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 26% above VT	24 minLowest 4% above VT
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	South Hero 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	South Hero School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.