Compare towns
Webster vs Bow vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Webster | Bow | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
8,335Highest |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Bow and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Bow School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative 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.