Compare towns
Amherst vs Peru vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Peru | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Peru 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— |
| Amherst and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.