Compare towns
Lyndeborough vs Salem vs Pelham
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 most affordable homes ($391k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Salem | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,616Lowest |
30,964Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Salem 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% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Salem 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 18% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Salem and Lyndeborough 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 |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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 NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Salem School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.