Compare towns

Amherst vs Springfield vs Stoddard

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (9.3% rent).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

MeasureAmherstSpringfieldStoddard
People
Population
11,861Highest
1,122
1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
NH: +4.6%
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+11.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.9±3.5Lowest
6% above NH
51.4±8.8
19% above NH
53±4Highest
22% above NH
Stoddard and Springfield 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%
15.1%±8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.5%±3.4
NH: 18.2%
Amherst and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
Stoddard 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%Highest
NH: 40.6%
36.4%
NH: 40.6%
34.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
0%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
3.5%±1.7
NH: 6%
Amherst and Stoddard 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
$100,893±$19k
about the NH average
$94,904±$11kLowest
4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$384,100±$50k
5% below NH
$330,300±$20kLowest
18% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256Highest
about the NH average
$1,096±$217
26% below NH
$895±$751Lowest
40% below NH
Amherst and Springfield 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
$5,946
11% below NH
$4,316Lowest
35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9
NH: 48.2%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.6%±100Highest
NH: 48.2%
Stoddard and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
90.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
22% above NH
34 minHighest
29% above NH
34 min
25% above NH
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±11.6
NH: 16.8%
9.5%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Amherst and Springfield 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 — Stoddard School District
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.