Compare towns

Amherst vs Ogunquit 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

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).

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.

MeasureAmherstOgunquitBow
People
Population
11,861Highest
1,379Lowest
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Ogunquit 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
90% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
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±$30k
62% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256Lowest
3% above U.S.
—
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773Highest
213% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bow and Amherst 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
32.4%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Amherst 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 — #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.