Compare towns

Bow vs Everett vs Dunbarton 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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.

MeasureBowEverettDunbartonAmherst
People
Population
8,335
50,045Highest
3,097Lowest
11,861
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Amherst 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%
21.8%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Lowest
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%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Everett and Bow 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.
$85,218±$7kLowest
6% above U.S.
$124,348±$21k
54% 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±$34k
52% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$484,100±$33kLowest
46% above U.S.
$537,600±$30k
62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$4,880Lowest
56% above U.S.
$8,233
164% above U.S.
$9,773Highest
213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Everett and Dunbarton 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%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4
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 #264 of 282 in MA #33 of 120 in NH #20 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Everett Dunbarton School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town Bow High School Everett High None in town Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.1
—
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.