Compare towns
Amherst vs Hollis vs Mason
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%).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Hollis | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,603 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
| 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%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 55% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
| Hollis 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 34% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| 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.