Compare towns
Orford vs Hampton Falls 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
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Orford | Hampton Falls | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295Lowest |
2,328 |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Orford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$153,196±$10k 55% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,773 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Orford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Hampton Falls School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.