Compare towns

Bow vs Lyndeborough vs Somersworth

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%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).

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.

MeasureBowLyndeboroughSomersworth
People
Population
8,335
1,616Lowest
12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+1.1%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±2
4% below NH
50±3.2Highest
15% above NH
38.4±2.7Lowest
11% below NH
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4
NH: 18.2%
Bow and Somersworth 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%
22.6%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
40.1%
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
Bow and Somersworth 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
$116,964±$17k
18% above NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kHighest
26% above NH
$390,900±$26k
about the NH average
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
3% above NH
$1,482±$457
about the NH average
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
Bow and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584Highest
44% above NH
$7,133
7% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.9%±90
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth and Lyndeborough 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%
3.7%
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
NH: 72.8%
92.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
39 minHighest
46% above NH
26 minLowest
3% below NH
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Bow and Lyndeborough 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 — #117 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Somersworth School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
11.4Lowest
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.