Compare towns

Cornish vs Lyndeborough vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

MeasureCornishLyndeboroughReading
People
Population
1,816Highest
1,616
699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
50±3.2Lowest
29% above U.S.
51.1±7.6
31% above U.S.
Cornish and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Lyndeborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$116,964±$17kHighest
45% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$296,000±$69kLowest
11% below U.S.
$390,900±$26kHighest
17% above U.S.
$377,200±$72k
13% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,482±$457Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below 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
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$7,133Highest
129% above U.S.
$5,754Lowest
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None 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.