Compare towns
Amherst vs Dunbarton vs Weare
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%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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.
| Measure | Amherst | Dunbarton | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
3,097Lowest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Amherst 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Weare and Dunbarton 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 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
| Amherst and Dunbarton 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 |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 22% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Weare 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Dunbarton School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.