Compare towns
Hampton Falls 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
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Hampton Falls | Lyme | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | — | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls 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.