What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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	Gilsum	Lyndeborough
People
Population	716Lowest	1,616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH	50±3.2Highest 15% above NH
	Lyndeborough and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lyndeborough and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lyndeborough and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	40.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6%
	Lyndeborough and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH	$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH	$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH	$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average
	Gilsum and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Lowest 16% below NH	$7,133Highest 7% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	39 minHighest 46% above NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lyndeborough and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock 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.