Compare towns
Bow vs Lyme vs Pelham
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
1,710Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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 |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Bow and Pelham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Lyme School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.