Compare towns
Amherst vs Hanover vs Hollis
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 affordable homes ($538k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,479Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
| 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% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.