Compare towns
Amherst vs Dunbarton vs Hanover 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 people working from home (32.4%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dunbarton | Hanover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
3,097Lowest |
8,479 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dunbarton 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% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hanover 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Dunbarton School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | — | 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 | 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.