Compare towns
Bow vs Durham vs Hopkinton vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hopkinton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hopkinton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,080Highest |
6,037Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| 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 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Amherst and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Bow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hopkinton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hopkinton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | Hopkinton High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
12.0 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.