Compare towns
Windham vs Sheldon vs Bow vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bow has the most renters (12.5% 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 | Sheldon | Bow | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
2,267Lowest |
8,335 |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Windham 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 135% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bow School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | None in town | Bow High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.