Compare towns
Bow vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Concord
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Lyme | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
8,479 |
1,710Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Lyme and Bow 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Lyme School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | None in town | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.0Highest |
| 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.