Compare towns
Amherst vs Nelson vs Sullivan
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Nelson has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.
| Measure | Amherst | Nelson | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
648Lowest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Amherst 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% |
16.3%±5Lowest 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% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sullivan 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 55% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Amherst and Sullivan 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | 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.