Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lyme vs Windham 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
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Dunbarton | Lyme | Windham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,710Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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.