Compare towns

Amherst vs Sutton vs Windham 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 most people working from home (32.4%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureAmherstSuttonWindhamBow
People
Population
11,861
9,452
16,038Highest
8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±3.5Highest
18% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Amherst and Sutton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Sutton 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.
$147,125±$25kLowest
82% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
Windham 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
62% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773
213% above U.S.
$6,763Lowest
117% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 120 in NH #105 of 282 in MA #13 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Sutton Windham School District Bow School District
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School Sutton High School Windham High School Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.6
12.8Highest
12.8Highest
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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.