Compare towns
Amherst vs Lyndeborough vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
1,616Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| 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 213% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.