Compare towns
Amherst vs Springfield vs Temple
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Temple has the most renters (17.8% rent).
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 | Springfield | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Springfield and Temple 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%±8 NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Springfield 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Amherst and Temple 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 |
$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
$401,000±$27k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,169±$523 22% below NH |
| Amherst and Temple 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 |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,983 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Amherst and Temple 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% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 22% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Contoocook Valley 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.