Compare towns

Amherst vs Stratham vs Worcester

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 people working from home (32.4%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).

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.

MeasureAmherstStrathamWorcester
People
Population
11,861Highest
7,754
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±3.5
18% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
Worcester and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Stratham 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.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
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
62% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773
213% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 —
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School None in town None in town
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.