Compare towns
Bow vs Pelham vs Dunbarton 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 the highest household income ($173k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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.
| Measure | Bow | Pelham | Dunbarton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
14,449Highest |
3,097Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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 75% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Pelham 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 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% 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 | $9,584 44% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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 NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Pelham School District | Dunbarton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Pelham High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.