Compare towns
Keene vs Lyndeborough vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Keene | Lyndeborough | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,616Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,482±$457Highest about the NH average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.