Compare towns
Bow vs South Hampton vs Lyme vs Suncook
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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | South Hampton | Lyme | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Lyme 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 |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below 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 |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | South Hampton 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 |
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.