Compare towns
Amherst vs Mont Vernon vs Nottingham 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%).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Nottingham has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Mont Vernon | Nottingham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
2,636Lowest |
5,357 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Nottingham 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% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Nottingham 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% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Mont Vernon 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 |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Nottingham and Bow 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Mont Vernon School District | Nottingham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | 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.