Compare towns
Canaan vs Dorset vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.
| Measure | Canaan | Dorset | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
2,092Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Dorset 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.