Compare towns
Campton vs Lyme vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Campton has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Campton | Lyme | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,407 |
1,710Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Campton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±6.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±10.9 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Campton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,870±$21kLowest 20% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,300±$38kLowest 11% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,028Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Campton and Lyme 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Campton School District | Lyme School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| 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.