Compare towns
Amherst vs Hollis vs Stratham
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).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,603 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below 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%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Stratham 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% |
57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stratham 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 55% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$151,998±$20kLowest 53% 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±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Hollis and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest 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 | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.