Compare towns
Amherst vs Reading vs Merrimack
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 people working from home (32.4%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 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 | Reading | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
699Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack and Amherst 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 90% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Merrimack 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Merrimack 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.