Compare towns
Lyndeborough vs Reading vs Strafford
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 highest household income ($117k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Reading | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,616Highest |
699Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±3.2Lowest 29% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,900±$26k 17% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Strafford 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Lyndeborough 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.