What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	Nelson
People
Population	11,861Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Amherst and Nelson 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%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson 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 NH: 40.6%	61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Amherst and Nelson 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	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Amherst and Nelson 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	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Nelson 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%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 22% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Amherst and Nelson 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	—
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Nelson 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

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.