What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Lyndeborough has the most affordable 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canterbury	Lyndeborough
People
Population	2,353Highest	1,616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±3.8Lowest 12% above NH	50±3.2Highest 15% above NH
	Lyndeborough and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%	14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Canterbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1%	22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Canterbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±3Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Canterbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH	$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH
	Canterbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH	$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH	$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average
	Canterbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,421Highest 11% above NH	$7,133Lowest 7% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2%	48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canterbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 22% above NH	39 minHighest 46% above NH
Work from home	21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Canterbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Shaker Regional School District	Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.