Compare towns
Amherst vs Windham vs Ashby
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.
| Measure | Amherst | Windham | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
16,038Highest |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 18% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Windham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.