Compare towns
Lyme vs Bow vs Orford vs Dorchester
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 the most kids (25% under 18).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Orford | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
8,335Highest |
1,295 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Orford 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 |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
— |
| Bow and Lyme 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 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 | Lyme School District | Bow School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Rivendell Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.