Compare towns
Lyme vs Ogunquit vs Bow vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Ogunquit | Bow | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,379Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 66% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lyme 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 | — | — | #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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.