Compare towns
Amherst vs Holbrook vs Townsend
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%).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
11,380 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Holbrook 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% |
21.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Holbrook 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% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21k 40% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Holbrook 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.