Compare towns

Amherst vs Bow vs Danby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

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.

MeasureAmherstBowDanby
People
Population
11,861Highest
8,335
1,133Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
52.6±4.8Highest
35% above U.S.
Danby 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
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Danby 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
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
90% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$77,321±$13kLowest
4% below U.S.
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
62% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$272,400±$41kLowest
18% below U.S.
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
3% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$794±$166Lowest
44% below U.S.
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
213% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$4,543Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±34.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Danby and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Bow School District Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School Bow High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.8Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.