What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyndeborough has the most kids (14.9% under 18).

Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 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.

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

Measure	Lyndeborough	Waterville Valley
People
Population	1,616Highest	290Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	50±3.2Lowest 15% above NH	61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH
	Waterville Valley and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2%	8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lyndeborough and Waterville Valley 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%	43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	71.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyndeborough and Waterville Valley 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	$105,625±$50kLowest 7% above NH
	Lyndeborough and Waterville Valley 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	$562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH
	Waterville Valley 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 about the NH average	$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH
	Lyndeborough and Waterville Valley 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	$5,745Lowest 14% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2%	33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyndeborough and Waterville Valley 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%	6.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 46% above NH	14 minLowest 48% below NH
Work from home	16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.7%±12.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Waterville Valley 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	Waterville Valley 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.