Compare towns
Amherst vs Hollis vs Bow vs Mont Vernon
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%).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Hollis | Bow | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,603 |
8,335 |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Hollis 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% |
21%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis 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% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Bow and Hollis 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 |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,598±$302Highest 7% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.8 |
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.