Compare towns
Amherst vs Brookline vs Newfields vs Hollis
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Newfields | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
5,736 |
2,023Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 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%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Brookline 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 |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hollis and Newfields 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 |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
| Brookline and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | — | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Newfields School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 11.8Highest |
| 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.