What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the highest household income ($97k).

Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Lincoln	Waitsfield
People
Population	1,394Lowest	1,918Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.7±3.6Highest 6% above VT	44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average
	Lincoln and Waitsfield 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%	23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Waitsfield 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%	28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Waitsfield 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%	63.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.8%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Waitsfield 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	$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT
	Lincoln and Waitsfield 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	$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT
	Waitsfield 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	$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average
	Waitsfield 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	$6,208Highest 23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4%	47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Lincoln and Waitsfield 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%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Lowest 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	25 minLowest 6% above VT
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Waitsfield 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	Harwood Unified Union School District #60
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.