Compare towns
Lyme vs Exeter vs Bow
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Exeter | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.