Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Bow vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Rollinsford | Bow | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,626 |
8,335Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 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+ | 19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Rollinsford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Bow School District | Lyme 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 |
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.