What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Lempster	Lyndeborough
People
Population	953Lowest	1,616Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH	50±3.2Lowest 15% above NH
	Lempster and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lyndeborough and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%	22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lempster and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	40.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Lempster and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH	$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH	$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,482±$457 about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,558Lowest 32% below NH	$7,133Highest 7% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lempster and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 40% above NH	39 minHighest 46% above NH
Work from home	5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Lempster 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.