Compare towns

Bow vs Dunbarton vs Sutton 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 the highest household income ($173k).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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.

MeasureBowDunbartonSuttonAmherst
People
Population
8,335
3,097
790Lowest
11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
46.6±5.7
20% above U.S.
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
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+
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Dunbarton 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.
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below 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±$34k
52% above U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$231,100±$41kLowest
31% below U.S.
$537,600±$30kHighest
62% above U.S.
Amherst and Bow 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.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
—
$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.
$8,233
164% above U.S.
$3,975Lowest
27% above U.S.
$9,773Highest
213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±31.1
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton 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%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Amherst and Bow 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 #33 of 120 in NH — #20 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Dunbarton School District Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
— —
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.