Compare towns
Amherst vs Exeter vs Pembroke
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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Exeter | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
16,151Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Amherst 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.