Compare towns
Windham vs Lyme vs Durham vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Windham | Lyme | Durham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
1,710Lowest |
15,080 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.