Compare towns
Lempster vs Lyndeborough vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Lempster | Lyndeborough | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953 |
1,616Highest |
855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 17% above NH |
50±3.2Lowest 15% above NH |
52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
| Marlow and Lempster 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%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Lempster 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% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,482±$457Highest about the NH average |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558Lowest 32% below NH |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
35 minLowest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lempster School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | None 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.