What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	Strafford
People
Population	11,861Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Amherst 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%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Amherst and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Strafford 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 History	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.