What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).

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

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	South Hero	Lincoln
People
Population	1,586Highest	1,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT	45.7±3.6Lowest 6% 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	14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest 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+	26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4%	22.3%±3Lowest 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+	61.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	43.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	2.9%±2.1Highest 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	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT	$96,667±$18kLowest 19% 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	$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT	$365,200±$30kLowest 15% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT	$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,858Highest 56% above VT	$6,100Lowest 21% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4%	49.1%±25.5Highest 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	3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% above VT	30 minHighest 26% above VT
Work from home	26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%	18.8%±5.6Lowest 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	South Hero School District	Lincoln Town 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.