Compare towns
Roxbury vs Amherst vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Roxbury | Amherst | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
11,861Highest |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Roxbury and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219kLowest 20% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Amherst and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787 13% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Nelson 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 | — | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.