Compare towns
Lyme vs Canaan vs Bow vs Wilmot
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).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
3,811 |
8,335Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% 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 |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Wilmot 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% |
17.1%±3.2 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% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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 |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% 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 |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 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 |
33 minHighest 22% 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% |
18.9%±3.8 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Bow High School | — |
| 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.