Compare towns
Amherst vs Keene vs Hooksett vs Hollis
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k 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 | Keene | Hooksett | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
22,939Highest |
15,057 |
8,603Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above 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%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Hooksett School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Keene High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.