What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	Reading
People
Population	11,861Lowest	25,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.	43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Amherst and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Reading and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Reading 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amherst and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,196±$10kLowest 90% above U.S.	$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S.
	Reading and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.	$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S.
	Reading and Amherst 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.	$9,320Lowest 199% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Amherst and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	30.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amherst and Reading 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	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Reading
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.