Compare towns

Amherst vs Dover vs Mont Vernon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).

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.

MeasureAmherstDoverMont Vernon
People
Population
11,861
33,364Highest
2,636Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.9±3.5Highest
6% above NH
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
42.9±2.8
about the NH average
Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.1%±3.8
NH: 18.2%
Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±3.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
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%Highest
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
50.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2Highest
NH: 6%
6.1%±2.8
NH: 6%
Dover and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,196±$10k
55% above NH
$94,829±$7kLowest
4% below NH
$158,036±$19kHighest
60% above NH
Mont Vernon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$436,700±$20kLowest
8% above NH
$526,300±$39k
31% above NH
Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256
about the NH average
$1,607±$100Highest
8% above NH
$1,104±$185Lowest
26% below NH
Dover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773Highest
47% above NH
$8,249Lowest
24% above NH
$9,432
41% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
51.4%±80.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
Mont Vernon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
1 yr older than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1978Highest
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
30 min
12% above NH
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.6%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 #64 of 120 in NH #4 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Dover School District Mont Vernon School District
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.7Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

NH 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.