Compare towns
Bow vs Lyme vs Bedford
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 affordable homes ($507k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Lyme | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
1,710Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Lyme and Bedford 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bedford 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 |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Lyme and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Lyme School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.