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.
| Measure | Amherst | Douglas | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.


