Compare towns
Amherst vs Brookline vs Milford vs Somersworth
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%).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Brookline | Milford | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
5,736Lowest |
16,337Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Amherst and Brookline 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% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Somersworth 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 |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below 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 |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Brookline and Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Milford School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Milford High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.