Compare towns
Amherst vs Pelham vs Sullivan
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%).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Pelham | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
14,449Highest |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Sullivan 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 |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$106,667±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Amherst and Pelham 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 |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Pelham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Amherst and Pelham 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 |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Sullivan 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Pelham School District | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Pelham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
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.