Compare towns
Amherst vs Newfields vs Nelson vs Windham
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Nelson | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
2,023 |
648Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Windham 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Windham 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$189,583±$19k 91% above NH |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Nelson School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| 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.