Compare towns
Amherst vs Newfields vs Hampstead vs Merrimack
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 highest household income ($198k).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Newfields | Hampstead | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
2,023Lowest |
9,102 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Merrimack 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Hampstead 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Newfields 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Hampstead School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.