Compare towns
Alstead vs Amherst 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
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Alstead | Amherst | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
11,861Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Amherst and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
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.