Compare towns

Nottingham vs Amherst vs Northwood

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

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.

MeasureNottinghamAmherstNorthwood
People
Population
5,357
11,861Highest
4,688Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.3%
NH: +4.6%
+4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.8±6.7Lowest
10% below NH
45.9±3.5Highest
6% above NH
42.4±7.8
about the NH average
Amherst and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.9%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
18%±4.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Nottingham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±4.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
21.5%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Northwood and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.9%
NH: 40.6%
65.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
38.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2
NH: 6%
Nottingham and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,201±$20kLowest
23% above NH
$153,196±$10kHighest
55% above NH
$129,375±$23k
31% above NH
Amherst and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$457,500±$26k
14% above NH
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$363,000±$13kLowest
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$1kHighest
39% above NH
$1,462±$256
about the NH average
$1,201±$372Lowest
19% below NH
Nottingham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,319
10% above NH
$9,773Highest
47% above NH
$5,806Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
92.1%±44.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
31.4%±9
NH: 48.2%
23.7%±29.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
7.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
89%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
13 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1970Lowest
9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above NH
33 minLowest
22% above NH
37 minHighest
37% above NH
Work from home
22.2%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±6.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Amherst and Nottingham 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 #15 of 120 in NH #20 of 120 in NH #24 of 120 in NH
School district Nottingham School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.