Compare towns
Amherst vs Castleton vs Ira
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 the most people working from home (32.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
4,453 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Castleton 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.