What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most kids (23% 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	Strafford
People
Population	1,394Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±3.6Lowest 6% above VT	51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT
	Strafford 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%	23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Strafford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4%	22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Lincoln and Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7%
	Strafford 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±$18kLowest 19% above VT	$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT
	Strafford 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	$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT
	Strafford and Lincoln 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	$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT
	Strafford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Lowest 21% above VT	$7,149Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lincoln and Strafford 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%	5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 26% above VT	23 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9%	16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Lincoln and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lincoln Town School District	Strafford 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.