Compare towns
Lyme vs Hanover vs Bow vs Newfields
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Bow | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
8,479Highest |
8,335 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields and Bow 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 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% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Bow School District | Newfields 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 | 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.