Compare towns
Amherst vs Durham vs Newfields 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Newfields | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
10,681 |
2,023Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Newfields 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Bow 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Newfields and Bow 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 |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newfields 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Newfields 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Newfields 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.