Compare towns
Dorset vs Bow vs Lyme vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Dorset | Bow | Lyme | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
8,335Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Bow School District | Lyme School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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.