Compare towns
Milford vs Bow vs Lyme vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Milford | Bow | Lyme | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
8,335 |
1,710Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Lyme and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Milford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Bow School District | Lyme School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Bow High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.