Compare towns

Amherst vs Londonderry vs Townsend

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 most people working from home (32.4%).
Londonderry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

MeasureAmherstLondonderryTownsend
People
Population
11,861
26,685Highest
9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±3.5Highest
18% above U.S.
42.7±0.9
10% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Amherst and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Amherst and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Amherst and Townsend 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
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Londonderry 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.
$132,556±$14k
64% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
Amherst and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30kHighest
62% above U.S.
$505,200±$20k
52% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Amherst and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256Lowest
3% above U.S.
$1,803±$154Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
Londonderry and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773Highest
213% above U.S.
$8,069
159% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±7.8
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
29 minLowest
8% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 120 in NH #37 of 120 in NH #136 of 282 in MA
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Londonderry School District North Middlesex
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School Londonderry Senior High School North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.0
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.