Compare towns
Amherst vs Durham vs Norwich
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
15,080Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Norwich 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich 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 |
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.