Compare towns
Bow vs Rumney vs Lyme
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%).
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Rumney | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,458Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Rumney 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% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Lyme 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% |
24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Rumney 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% |
41.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Rumney 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 |
$79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$309,800±$37kLowest 23% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Bow and Lyme 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 |
$4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rumney 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% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Rumney 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 |
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.