Compare towns
Amherst vs Sandgate vs Wheelock
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 expensive homes ($538k median).
Sandgate has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Sandgate | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
435Lowest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Wheelock 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Wheelock 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% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Sandgate 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% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amherst and Wheelock 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. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amherst and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Amherst 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 | — | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.