Compare towns
Bow vs Norwich vs Lyme vs Suncook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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 | Norwich | Lyme | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
3,640 |
1,710Lowest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
37.9±8.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Norwich 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 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$79,836±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$361,100±$22kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,091±$317Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,975Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.