Compare towns
Richmond vs Pelham vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Richmond | Pelham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159Lowest |
14,449Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 70 in VT | #48 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Pelham School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.