Compare towns
Amherst vs Dorset vs Dunbarton
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 highest household income ($153k).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Dorset | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
2,092Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunbarton 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±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Dorset 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. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Dunbarton 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Dorset 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dunbarton 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 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.