Compare towns
Amherst vs North Hampton vs Exeter 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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | North Hampton | Exeter | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
4,543Lowest |
16,151 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Merrimack 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Amherst and North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Exeter 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.