What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).

York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Amherst	York
People
Population	11,861Lowest	13,986Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S.	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.
	York and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and York 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%	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Amherst and York 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.	$121,250±$25kLowest 50% above U.S.
	Amherst and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S.	$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S.
	York and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.5%±10.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	26%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amherst and York 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	#13 of 133 in ME
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	York Public Schools
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	York High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.6Lowest
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.