Compare towns

Amherst vs Newfields vs North Hampton 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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.

MeasureAmherstNewfieldsNorth HamptonBow
People
Population
11,861Highest
2,023Lowest
4,543
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.9±3.5
6% above NH
44.1±1.8
about the NH average
50.5±3.3Highest
17% above NH
41.5±2Lowest
4% below NH
North Hampton 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%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.2%±5.4
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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
26%±4.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
North Hampton 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%
NH: 40.6%
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
60.3%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
Newfields 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±$10k
55% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$146,458±$29kLowest
48% above NH
$172,857±$16k
75% above NH
Newfields 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
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
$670,400±$61kHighest
67% above NH
$506,500±$34kLowest
26% above NH
North Hampton and Newfields 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
$1,875±$323Highest
26% above NH
$1,805±$106
21% above NH
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
Newfields and North Hampton 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
$8,529Lowest
28% above NH
$9,584
44% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21Lowest
NH: 48.2%
39%±13.2
NH: 48.2%
Newfields 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%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
2.9%
NH: 7.2%
2.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
87.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
26 min
4% below NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±6.9
NH: 16.8%
22.7%±4.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Amherst and North Hampton 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 — #12 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Newfields School District North Hampton 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.