Compare towns
Amherst vs Mapleton vs Union
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Union 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amherst and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.