What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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	Westminster
People
Population	11,861Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Westminster 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%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster 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%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster 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.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%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 10% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amherst and Westminster 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	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.6Highest
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.