What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Lincoln has the most kids (19.4% 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	Orford	Lincoln
People
Population	1,295Lowest	1,461Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH	46.8±10.1Lowest 8% above NH
	Orford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lincoln and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lincoln and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Orford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH	$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH
	Orford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH	$342,000±$38kHighest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH	$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH
	Orford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest 12% below NH	$2,984Lowest 55% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lincoln and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	6.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	72%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% below NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lincoln and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	Lin-Wood Public School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Highest	7.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.