Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 23,713. More miles of trail than almost any town in Rhode Island.
Trash day: look up yoursFor most people who can afford it, yes. Lincoln grades B+ overall, 25th of 38 graded towns in Rhode Island. It has 55 miles of trail. Residents are healthier than 85% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $552K, 6.3 years of the Providence metro’s $87K median household income. Lincoln’s trail density is 2.9 miles per square mile, where Rhode Island’s towns sit at 0.8 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Lincoln has 18 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Eleazer Arnold House and Limerock Village Historic District.
Where Lincoln beats most towns.
Eleazer Arnold House is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier.
Census counts: 7,889 in 1870, a low of 7,889 in 1870, 22,529 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1891 and 6 maps from 1894 on.
18 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Rhode Island), ordered by how far Lincoln is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lincoln. Close and well known come first.
Big draw15 mi Stadium & arenaGillette Stadium
Big draw35 mi Stadium & arenaFenway Park
Big draw22 mi LakeLake Chaubunagungamaug
Big draw32 mi MuseumThe Breakers
21 mi MuseumUSS Massachusetts
22 mi Ancient siteHMS EndeavourGillette Stadium: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fenway Park: Gatorfan252525, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lake Chaubunagungamaug: Bree from Worcester, MA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · The Breakers: UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · USS Massachusetts: USN, Public domain · HMS Endeavour: Samuel Atkins (c.1760-1810), Public domain
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lincoln, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Lincoln.
Lincoln has more trail for its size than nearly any town in Rhode Island and is healthy by national standards but mid-pack in Rhode Island.
At 2.9 miles of trail per square mile, it ranks #3 of 37 Rhode Island towns. Its A+ for the outdoors ranks #2 of 38 in Rhode Island.
Lincoln Woods State Park, at 1,563 acres with 24.7 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lincoln Woods State Park | 24.7 mi | 1,563 |
| 2. Aust Family Preserve at Lime Rock | 3.1 mi | 143 |
| 3. Chase Farm Park | 2.8 mi | 93 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Its public schools are run by the Lincoln school district. Three of its 8 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 773 | A− |
| Lincoln Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 973 | A |
| Lincoln Central Elem.Top results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 416 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within RI on state tests and graduation
Within Rhode Island it is healthier than 54% of the 38 graded towns: Rhode Island sets a high bar. Its widest gap with Rhode Island is tooth loss: 9.2% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.2% statewide.
9.7% of Lincoln adults smoke cigarettes, below both the Rhode Island town median (11%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). 29% of Lincoln adults have obesity. Lincoln beats the Rhode Island average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
| Lincoln | Rhode Island towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 9.7% | 11% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 19% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 33% | 33% |
| What stands out | Lincoln | RI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.2% | 14.2% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.5% | 8.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.5% | 8.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 71% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 50 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Lincoln.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Lincoln has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 20° and about 48 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Lincoln for work: only 13% work in town. Since 2013, Lincoln has added 3,302 jobs, to 15,137 in 2023. The median household income in Lincoln is $105,000.
| Lincoln | Rhode Island towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $105,000 | $103,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 12% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 6.5% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Adults 18 to 34 are 17% of residents (24% statewide); people 65 and older are 24% of residents (19% statewide). 46% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Lincoln. Lincoln has grown 5.3% since 2020, to 23,713 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
| Lincoln | Rhode Island towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 46% | 37% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 24% | 21% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 22% | 18% | 22% |
| Median age | 43.7 years | 44 years | 40.5 years |
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.2 points. Across Rhode Island, 50.9% of residents are women.
| Lincoln | RI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.6% | 10% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.9% | 8.8% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.5% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.8% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.1% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.4% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.7% | 13.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.9% | 11% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.1% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.5% | 10.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.8% | 26.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 14.3% | 17.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5.7% | 8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 28.1% | 22.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 17.7% | 15.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Rhode Island has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Lincoln sits closer to the middle.
| Lincoln | Rhode Island towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 10.4 per 1,000 residents | 4.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Typical home values rose 5.4% in the year to September 2026. Lincoln’s median rent is $1,468 a month.
| Lincoln | Rhode Island towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,468 a month | $1,366 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 76% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
10 within 15 miles of the center of Lincoln
About 6 of every 100 Lincoln residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across Rhode Island.
15.5% of the town is conserved land, across 11 parks and preserves.
18 places in Lincoln on the National Register of Historic Places.
7 notable people were born in Lincoln.
Town in Rhode Island, United States
Lincoln is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,529 at the 2020 census. Lincoln is located in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence. Lincoln is part of the Providence metropolitan statistical area and the Greater Boston combined statistical area. Lincoln was settled in the 17th century as part of the Louisquisset grant, and several colonial stone-enders still exist in the town. Lincoln Woods State Park is located within the town. Limestone quarrying has occurred there since colonial times at the village of Lime Rock. Lincoln was a part of the town of Smithfield until 1871, when it was split off and named in honor of Abraham Lincoln. The ci…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
7 towns share a border with Lincoln.
| Town | RI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | #25 | B+ | C− | B | B+ | A |
| North Smithfield | #19 | A− | C− | B | A− | A− |
| Cumberland | #9 | A | C− | A | A− | A− |
| Valley Falls | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cumberland Hill | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Smithfield | #10 | A | C | A− | A− | A |
| Central Falls | #38 | D− | C− | C+ | D− | D− |
| North Providence | #28 | B | C− | B+ | B− | B |
Valley Falls and Cumberland Hill aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Lincoln with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
For most people who can afford it, yes. Lincoln grades B+ overall, better than 67% of U.S. towns and #25 of 38 in Rhode Island. It grades A for health, B for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Yes, by national standards. Rhode Island has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Lincoln sits nearer the middle.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
7 notable people were born here, including James H. Higgins and Clem Labine.
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