Compare towns
Amherst vs Townsend vs Hollis
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Townsend | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
9,100 |
8,603Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Amherst 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | North Middlesex Regional | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.