What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k median).

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	Dover
People
Population	11,861Highest	5,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.	44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Amherst and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dover and Amherst 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%	16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover 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±$10kLowest 90% above U.S.	$250,001Highest 210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.	$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.	$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S.
	Dover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Lowest 213% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amherst and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Amherst 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	#1 of 282 in MA
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Dover · Dover-Sherborn
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Dover-Sherborn Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.