Compare towns
Lyme vs Bow vs Londonderry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Londonderry has the most affordable homes ($470k 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 | Lyme | Bow | Londonderry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
8,335 |
12,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.4±1 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
46%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Londonderry and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$119,571±$13kLowest 21% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$469,500±$23kLowest 17% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,952±$135Highest 31% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,568Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
60.6%±13.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Londonderry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.4%±2.8Lowest 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 | #37 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school 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.