What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	11,861Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average
	Amherst and Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Amherst and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1%	19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Amherst and Rochester 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%	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Rochester 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 55% above NH	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH
	Amherst and Rochester 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	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr older than NH	1978 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 22% above NH	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 120 in NH	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Rochester School District
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.