Compare towns
Amherst vs Needham vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
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 | Needham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
32,459Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Needham 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 90% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.