Compare towns
Amherst vs Keene vs Hooksett vs Merrimack
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%).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861Lowest |
22,939 |
15,057 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Keene 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% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 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% |
3%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% |
88.9% 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 |
1985 6 yrs newer than 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% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Keene High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.