Compare towns
Wolfeboro 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
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Bow | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
8,335Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest 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 | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bow School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
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.