Compare towns
Bedford vs Amherst vs Bow vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Bedford | Amherst | Bow | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
11,861 |
8,335Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.2 4% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
12.5 |
| 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.