Compare towns
Amherst vs Durham vs Hampton Falls
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
15,080Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$30k 34% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.