Compare towns
Amherst vs Windham vs Merrimack
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 the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
594Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Merrimack 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack 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. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$5,951Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Merrimack 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.