Compare towns
Amherst vs Exeter vs Upton
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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
16,151Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Upton 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 62% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Upton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| 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 213% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,376Lowest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Upton 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Upton 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.