Compare towns
Bow vs Dorchester vs Lebanon 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
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
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 | Bow | Dorchester | Lebanon | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
410Lowest |
14,999Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 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+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
— | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
— | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Lebanon School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.