Compare towns
Sunapee 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
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Sunapee | Bow | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
8,335Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Sunapee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Sunapee and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Bow School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.