Compare towns
Amherst vs Kensington 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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Kensington | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
2,009Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Kensington 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack 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 |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Kensington 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Merrimack 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% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Kensington School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.