What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyndeborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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	Nelson
People
Population	1,616Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.2Highest 15% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Lyndeborough and Nelson 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%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyndeborough and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	Lyndeborough and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
	Lyndeborough and Nelson 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	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Lyndeborough and Nelson 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	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyndeborough and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District	Nelson 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.