What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westerly has the oldest population (median age 50.4).

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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	Westerly	Lincoln
People
Population	18,411Lowest	22,864Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	50.4±2.3Highest 24% above RI	43.7±2.2Lowest 8% above RI
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8%	21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	25.2%±2.8Highest RI: 18.7%	24%±2.7Lowest RI: 18.7%
	Westerly and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.3%Lowest RI: 37.7%	45.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Lowest RI: 8.3%	5.8%±1.8Highest RI: 8.3%
	Lincoln and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,207±$8kLowest 8% above RI	$104,821±$15kHighest 19% above RI
	Lincoln and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,800±$15kLowest 11% above RI	$450,600±$17kHighest 11% above RI
	Lincoln and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,260±$132Lowest 6% below RI	$1,468±$152Highest 9% above RI
	Lincoln and Westerly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,784Lowest 23% below RI	$4,751Highest 3% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±9.8Highest RI: 48%	40.4%±9.8Lowest RI: 48%
	Westerly and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest RI: 11.2%	7.4%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Lowest RI: 63.6%	72.1%Highest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 10 yrs newer than RI	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 10% below RI	24 minHighest 5% below RI
Work from home	10.4%±2.8Lowest RI: 13%	13.3%±3.4Highest RI: 13%
	Lincoln and Westerly 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	#25 of 38 in RI	#21 of 38 in RI
School district	—	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town	—	Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

RI 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.