What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plymouth	Amherst
People
Population	6,601Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH	45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH
Kids under 18	13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54%Lowest NH: 40.6%	65.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH	$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH	$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average
	Amherst and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,288Lowest 6% below NH	$9,773Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.8%±11.6Highest NH: 48.2%	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plymouth and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 31% below NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#47 of 120 in NH	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Plymouth Regional High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.