Compare towns
Amherst vs Jay vs Windham
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%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Jay | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
471Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Jay 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% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Jay 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.