Compare towns
Amherst vs Bellows Falls vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Bellows Falls | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
2,891Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Amherst and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.