Compare towns

Amherst vs Keene vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).

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.

MeasureAmherstKeeneWindhamHollis
People
Population
11,861
22,939Highest
16,038
8,603Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%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
41.1±2.9
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%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
21%±4
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Amherst 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
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%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
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%
3.8%±1.8
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
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
$168,883±$22k
71% above NH
Windham and Hollis 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
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$675,900±$48k
68% above NH
Windham and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256
about the NH average
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
$1,598±$302
7% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773
47% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.3%±19.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Windham and Keene 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%
2%
NH: 7.2%
1.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1979
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
31 min
15% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4
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 #13 of 120 in NH #8 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Keene School District Windham School District Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School Keene High School Windham High School Hollis-Brookline High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.3
12.8Highest
11.8
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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.