Compare towns
Amherst vs Bethlehem 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
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
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 | Amherst | Bethlehem | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
2,537Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest 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+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest 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 | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below 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 | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below 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±$256 about the NH average |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$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 | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Profile Senior High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
8.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.