Compare towns
Bow vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Rye | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
5,611Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| 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 75% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% 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±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Rye and Bow 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Rye School District | 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 |
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.