Compare towns
Windham vs Bow vs Hanover 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Windham | Bow | Hanover | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,479 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hanover 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Bow School District | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Bow High School | — | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
— | 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.