Compare towns
Amherst vs Bedford vs Hampton Falls
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%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Bedford | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
23,746Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Bedford 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% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Bedford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Bedford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Bedford School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.