Compare towns
Lyman vs Bow vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).
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 | Lyman | Bow | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 464Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
58±3.5 34% above NH |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,100±$66k 23% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$81 23% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,981Lowest 40% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyman and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Jefferson 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 | — | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.