Compare towns
Bow vs Lyme vs South Hampton vs Dunbarton
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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | South Hampton | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,710 |
984Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Dunbarton 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% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and South Hampton 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%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Dunbarton 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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±$15k 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Bow and South Hampton 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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±$130 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Bow 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 | — | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District | Dunbarton 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 | 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.