Compare towns
Amherst vs Stratham vs Merrimack vs Milford
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%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Milford has the most renters (35.1% 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 | Stratham | Merrimack | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
7,754Lowest |
28,164Highest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham 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% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Milford 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Merrimack School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Merrimack High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.