Compare towns
Amherst vs Hartford vs Wilder
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%).
Hartford has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Hartford | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
10,736 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Hartford 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Hartford 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. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Hartford 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. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.