Compare towns
Durham vs Lyndeborough vs Mont Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lyndeborough | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,482±$457Highest about the NH average |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.