What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westerly has the oldest population (median age 52.2).

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	23,333Highest	22,864Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest RI: +4.3%	+6.7%Highest RI: +4.3%
Median age	52.2±2.4Highest 29% above RI	43.7±2.2Lowest 8% above RI
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.1Lowest RI: 18.8%	21.5%±3Highest RI: 18.8%
Age 65+	26.4%±2.6Highest 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+	45.8%Lowest RI: 37.7%	45.9%Highest RI: 37.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.5Lowest 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	$98,875±$5kLowest 13% 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	$466,600±$15kHighest 15% above RI	$450,600±$17kLowest 11% above RI
	Westerly and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,257±$131Lowest 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	$3,847Lowest 21% below RI	$4,751Highest 3% below RI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±10.4Highest 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	5.2%Lowest RI: 11.2%	7.4%Highest RI: 11.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.7%Highest RI: 63.6%	72.1%Lowest RI: 63.6%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 11 yrs newer than RI	1970Lowest 8 yrs newer than RI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 5% below RI	24 minHighest 5% below RI
Work from home	11.5%±2.5Lowest 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	Westerly	Davies Career and Tech · Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy
High school in town	Westerly High School	Lincoln Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	14.7Highest
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.