Compare towns
Milford vs Somersworth vs Hollis vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Milford | Somersworth | Hollis | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
12,111 |
8,603Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Hollis and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Milford and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Hollis 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.4 |
11.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.