Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plymouth vs Bow vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Lebanon | Plymouth | Bow | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
6,601Lowest |
8,335 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Bow and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Bow and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Bow School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Bow High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.