Compare towns
Amherst vs Thornton vs Windham
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%).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Thornton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
2,799Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Thornton 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Amherst 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Windham 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Thornton School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.