Compare towns
Amherst vs Suncook vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% 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 | Suncook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
5,432Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.9±8.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Townsend 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% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$79,836±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$361,100±$22kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,091±$317Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Amherst 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. |
$6,975 124% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Suncook 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% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.