Compare towns
Windham vs Dover vs Amherst vs Bow
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%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Windham | Dover | Amherst | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
33,364Highest |
11,861 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 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% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% 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±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Dover School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dover Senior High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.7 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.