What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

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	Lyndeborough	Effingham
People
Population	1,616Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.2Highest 15% above NH	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH
	Lyndeborough and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyndeborough and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH	$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,482±$457Highest about the NH average	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH
	Lyndeborough and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,133Highest 7% above NH	$5,163Lowest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2%	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyndeborough and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above NH	32 minLowest 18% above NH
Work from home	16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lyndeborough and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District	Governor Wentworth Regional 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.