Compare towns
Amherst vs Keene vs Swanzey 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%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Keene | Swanzey | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
22,939Highest |
7,398Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Swanzey 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above 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 |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Swanzey 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bow 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Keene High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3 |
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.