Compare towns
Lyme vs Bow vs South Hampton
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
8,335Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and South Hampton 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%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Bow and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Bow 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 |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | South Hampton School District |
| High school 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 |
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.