Compare towns
Amherst vs Nelson vs Newfields
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Nelson | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
648Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±3 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$10k 55% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields and Nelson 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest 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 | Newfields School District |
| 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 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.