Compare towns
Amherst vs Hollis vs Bow vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 49.4).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
8,603 |
8,335Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| 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%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Windham 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±$16k 75% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham 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 |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer 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 |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | Bow High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.8 |
12.8Highest |
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.