What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).

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

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	Calais	Amherst
People
Population	1,713Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Calais and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Calais and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Calais and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.
	Amherst and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,586Lowest 111% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Calais and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	23.4%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Amherst and Calais 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
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
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.