Compare towns
Amherst vs Newfields vs Brookline
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%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Newfields | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Amherst 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% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Newfields 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Brookline 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.