Compare towns
Lyme vs Canaan vs Bow vs Hampton Falls
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).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Canaan | Bow | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
3,811 |
8,335Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 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% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Canaan 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 |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Lyme 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% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | — | #83 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Bow School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.