Compare towns
Wilton vs Gardner 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
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Wilton | Gardner | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960 |
21,148Highest |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,349±$21k 42% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70 about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$7,133 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #54 of 120 in NH | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Gardner | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.