Compare towns
Amherst vs Brookline vs Merrimack
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%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Brookline | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
5,736Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Merrimack 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Merrimack 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% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Brookline and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Brookline and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Merrimack and Amherst 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.