Compare towns
Lyme vs Stratham vs Bow vs Dorchester
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Stratham | Bow | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,754 |
8,335Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lyme 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
— |
| Bow and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | — |
| 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.