Compare towns
Dorset vs Lyme vs Bow
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%).
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 | Dorset | Lyme | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,710Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Dorset 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% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest 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±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| 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 |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest 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 | 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 |
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.