What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

Lincoln has the highest household income ($56k).

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	Rumford	Lincoln
People
Population	5,942Highest	4,890Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.4±3.4Lowest 13% above ME	52.4±3.4Highest 17% above ME
	Lincoln and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	11.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Rumford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Lincoln and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	20.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Rumford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME	$56,089±$15kHighest 25% below ME
	Lincoln and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME	$141,500±$40kHighest 52% below ME
	Lincoln and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$803±$81Highest 29% below ME	$658±$28Lowest 42% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,988Highest 35% below ME	$1,860Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.1%±11.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	61.3%±34.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Lincoln and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	16.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	24 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	6.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Rumford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 133 in ME	#94 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 10	Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67
High school in town	Mountain Valley High School	Mattanawcook Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.