Compare towns

Amherst vs Windham vs Hampstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

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%).
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).

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.

MeasureAmherstWindhamHampstead
People
Population
11,861
16,038Highest
9,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.9±3.5Highest
6% above NH
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
45.3±6.1
5% above NH
Amherst and Hampstead 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
21.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
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
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.8%±4Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hampstead 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
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
44.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
5.1%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
Hampstead and Windham 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
55% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
$112,348±$18kLowest
13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30k
34% above NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$521,100±$45kLowest
29% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256
about the NH average
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
$1,299±$149Lowest
13% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773
47% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,634Lowest
30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
Windham and Hampstead 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%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
31 min
15% above NH
30 minLowest
13% above NH
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
21%±4.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH #49 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Windham School District Hampstead School District
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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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.