Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sheldon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lyndeborough has the most expensive homes ($391k 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 | Salisbury | Sheldon | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyndeborough and Salisbury 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Salisbury 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. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.