Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping 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
Pelham has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
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 | Pelham | Epping | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
7,430Lowest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% 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 |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 10% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Epping 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.