What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Topsham
People
Population	11,861Highest	9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.	44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Amherst and Topsham 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%	19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Topsham 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%	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham 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%	50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham 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.	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.
	Amherst and Topsham 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.	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Topsham 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%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.9%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.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 120 in NH	#66 of 133 in ME
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.