Compare towns
Mason vs Salem vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Mason | Salem | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
30,964Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Salem and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
| Mason and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049 6% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | — |
| School district | Mason School District | Salem School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.