Compare towns
Lyme vs Lebanon 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).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Lebanon | Bow | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
14,999Highest |
8,335 |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6 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% |
57.5%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% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Lebanon School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
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.