Compare towns
Salisbury vs Reading vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Salisbury | Reading | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
699Lowest |
1,616Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
50±3.2Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyndeborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457 5% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.