Compare towns
Holderness vs Lyme vs Bow vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Holderness | Lyme | Bow | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
1,710Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 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 | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% 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 |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Lyme School District | Bow School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | 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 |
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.