Compare towns
Lyndeborough vs Bow vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Lyndeborough | Bow | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,616Lowest |
8,335 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,964±$17kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,900±$26kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Bow and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,133 129% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Bow School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.