Compare towns
Danby vs Amherst vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Danby | Amherst | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
11,861Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amherst and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Amherst and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.