Compare towns
Amherst vs Newfields vs Thornton
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 kids (22.4% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Newfields 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%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Thornton 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 |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Thornton 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 History | 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.