Compare towns
Amherst vs Calais vs Middlesex
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Middlesex 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 | Calais | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Middlesex 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Calais 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. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.