What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	Weare
People
Population	11,861Highest	9,170Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH	45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH
	Amherst and Weare 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%	22.4%±4 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1%	13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Weare 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 55% above NH	$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH	$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average	$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH
	Weare and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Highest 47% above NH	$6,272Lowest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%	62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Weare and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 22% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Amherst and Weare 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	#84 of 120 in NH
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	John Stark Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.