What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyndeborough	Stark
People
Population	1,616Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±3.2Lowest 15% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lyndeborough and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stark 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyndeborough and Stark 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	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,482±$457 about the NH average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,133Highest 7% above NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark 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%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above NH	34 minLowest 27% above NH
Work from home	16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lyndeborough and Stark 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	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.