Compare towns
Wilton vs Temple vs Lyndeborough vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k median).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Wilton | Temple | Lyndeborough | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,960Highest |
1,363Lowest |
1,616 |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2 8% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Wilton and Lyndeborough 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 15% above NH |
$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| 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±$23kLowest 5% below NH |
$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
| Temple and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70 7% below NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612Highest 14% above NH |
$6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above NH |
37 min 37% above NH |
39 min 46% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Temple 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.