What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).

Lyndeborough has the most people working from home (16.7%).

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	Dalton	Lyndeborough
People
Population	916Lowest	1,616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average	50±3.2Highest 15% above NH
	Lyndeborough and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2%	14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Dalton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	40.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Dalton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH	$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH
	Lyndeborough and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH	$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH	$1,482±$457Highest about the NH average
	Lyndeborough and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,561Lowest 47% below NH	$7,133Highest 7% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2%	48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Dalton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below NH	39 minHighest 46% above NH
Work from home	5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	—	Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District
High school 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.