Compare towns
Amherst vs Danvers vs Hollis
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 affordable homes ($538k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Danvers | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
28,098Highest |
8,603Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis and Danvers 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% |
48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danvers and Amherst 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 90% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Danvers 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.