Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Bow vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Bethlehem | Bow | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
8,335Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Bow School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.