Compare towns
Dorset vs Stratham 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
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Dorset | Stratham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
7,754 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.