Compare towns
Amherst vs Bow vs Nelson
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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.
| Measure | Amherst | Bow | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,335 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below 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 |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Nelson 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 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| 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.