Compare towns
Lyndeborough vs Manchester vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Lyndeborough | Manchester | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,616Lowest |
115,643Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Plaistow 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,133 7% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough and Manchester 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 | — | #115 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.