Compare towns
Amherst vs Barnstead vs Nottingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Amherst | Barnstead | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
4,994Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Amherst and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Nottingham 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.