Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Amherst vs Weare

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).

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.

MeasureDunbartonAmherstWeare
People
Population
3,097Lowest
11,861Highest
9,170
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.9%
NH: +4.6%
+3.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
11% above NH
45.9±3.5
6% above NH
45.6±4Lowest
5% above NH
Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
13.5%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
65.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
4.3%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,348±$21k
26% above NH
$153,196±$10kHighest
55% above NH
$118,271±$17kLowest
19% above NH
Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33k
20% above NH
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$396,300±$26kLowest
about the NH average
Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70Lowest
22% below NH
$1,462±$256
about the NH average
$1,541±$214Highest
3% above NH
Weare and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233
23% above NH
$9,773Highest
47% above NH
$6,272Lowest
6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7
NH: 48.2%
31.4%±9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
62.2%±24.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3%
NH: 7.2%
4.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
11 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
25% above NH
33 minLowest
22% above NH
36 minHighest
34% above NH
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.9
NH: 16.8%
Amherst and Weare 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 #33 of 120 in NH #20 of 120 in NH #84 of 120 in NH
School district Dunbarton School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District
High school in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School John Stark Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

NH 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.