Compare towns
Athens vs Cornish vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lyndeborough has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
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 | Athens | Cornish | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,816Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Cornish School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.