Compare towns
Amherst vs Dorset vs Pelham
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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
2,092Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Pelham 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. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Pelham 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±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Amherst and Pelham 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. |
$8,634 177% 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% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 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.