Compare towns
Sumner vs Lyndeborough vs Buckfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Lyndeborough has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
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 | Sumner | Lyndeborough | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,616 |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
37.7±10.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Sumner and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Buckfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyndeborough and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$77,917±$41k 3% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$227,700±$18k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$521±$33Lowest 63% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,860 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sumner and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 60% above U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sumner and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.2 |
| 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.