Compare towns
Amherst vs Hollis vs Pepperell
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%).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Hollis | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,603Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| 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 62% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Amherst 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest 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. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| 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 |
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| 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.