What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holbrook	Amherst
People
Population	11,380Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
	Amherst and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Amherst and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Holbrook and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,400±$21kLowest 40% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S.
	Amherst and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,105Lowest 96% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holbrook and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#234 of 282 in MA	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Holbrook	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Holbrook Middle High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.