Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Amherst vs Lyndeborough vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k 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 | Mont Vernon | Amherst | Lyndeborough | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,636 |
11,861Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432 41% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.