Compare towns
Pelham vs Amherst vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k 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.
| Measure | Pelham | Amherst | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
11,861 |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Pelham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 10% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.4 |
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| 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.