Compare towns
Amherst vs Lyndeborough vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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.
| Measure | Amherst | Lyndeborough | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
1,616Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,482±$457Highest about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.