Compare towns
Milford vs Nelson 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
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Milford | Nelson | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
648Lowest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Milford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Milford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Milford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Milford School District | Nelson School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.