What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).

Amherst has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover	Amherst
People
Population	8,479Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH	45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH
Kids under 18	9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Amherst and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	89.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	65.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH	$153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH
	Hanover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH	$537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH	$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$9,773Lowest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2%	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 29% below NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	26.7%±6Lowest NH: 16.8%	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Amherst and Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school 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

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.