Compare towns
Mont Vernon vs Kensington vs Amherst vs Brentwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Brentwood has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Mont Vernon | Kensington | Amherst | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,636 |
2,009Lowest |
11,861Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.8% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$153,196±$10kLowest 55% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $526,300±$39kLowest 31% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mont Vernon School District | Kensington School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.