Compare towns
Amherst vs Eliot vs Milford
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%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Eliot | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
7,146Lowest |
16,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Milford 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±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.