Compare towns
Milford vs Lyndeborough vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Milford | Lyndeborough | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,956 |
1,616Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% 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 | 23.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest 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 | $78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,557±$120 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough and Salem 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Salem High School |
| 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.