Compare towns
Amherst vs Brookline vs Newington
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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
5,736 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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 NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Newington 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 |
$145,833±$46kLowest 47% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$2,292±$795 54% above NH |
| Brookline and Newington 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brookline School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.