Compare towns
Wilder vs Amherst vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Wilder | Amherst | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
11,861Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest 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+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% 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 | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% 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 | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% 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 | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.