Compare towns
Amherst vs Lancaster vs Stratham
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Lancaster has the most renters (14.9% rent).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Lancaster | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
8,606 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham 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±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Amherst 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Nashoba | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.