Compare towns

Amherst vs Douglas vs Sutton

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%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 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.

MeasureAmherstDouglasSutton
People
Population
11,861Highest
9,207Lowest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±3.5Highest
18% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Amherst and Sutton 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%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Amherst and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Amherst and Sutton 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%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Sutton 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.
$152,267±$10k
89% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kLowest
82% above U.S.
Amherst and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30kHighest
62% above U.S.
$470,600±$29kLowest
41% above U.S.
$523,100±$47k
57% above U.S.
Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
Douglas and Amherst 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.
$6,338Lowest
103% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Douglas 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 120 in NH #177 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Douglas Sutton
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School Douglas High School Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
7.2Lowest
12.6Highest
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.