Compare towns
Lyndeborough vs Needham vs Bradford
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 most homeowners (92.4%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
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 | Needham | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,616 |
32,459Highest |
1,565Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.3±5.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bradford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,964±$17k 45% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$108,015±$21kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$341,700±$38kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,482±$457Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,507±$206 7% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,133 129% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,307Lowest 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Needham | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.