Compare towns
Bow vs Dorset vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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.
| Measure | Bow | Dorset | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
2,092Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% 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 | $506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256 3% 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 | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Dorset 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.