Compare towns
Amherst vs Mason vs Milford
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Milford has the most renters (40.6% rent).
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 | Mason | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
1,451Lowest |
8,956 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
| Amherst and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Milford 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Milford 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Amherst and Milford 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 55% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,557±$120 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Mason School District | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.