Compare towns
Bow vs Lee vs Lyme vs Nottingham
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 highest household income ($173k).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Lee | Lyme | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Nottingham 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Nottingham 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
— | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.