Compare towns
Merrimack vs Williston 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
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Merrimack | Williston | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
10,144Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 135% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Williston 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.