Compare towns

Sanbornton vs Amherst vs Franklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureSanborntonAmherstFranklin
People
Population
3,053Lowest
11,861Highest
8,799
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.1%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.9±5.4Lowest
3% below NH
45.9±3.5Highest
6% above NH
42.7±2
about the NH average
Amherst and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±5.5
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Amherst and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.2%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.3%±3.9
NH: 20.1%
Sanbornton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%
NH: 40.6%
65.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
19.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.2%±1.4
NH: 6%
Amherst and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,750±$41k
15% above NH
$153,196±$10kHighest
55% above NH
$71,648±$4kLowest
28% below NH
Amherst and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,300±$30k
12% above NH
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$262,200±$22kLowest
35% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,289±$198
14% below NH
$1,462±$256Highest
about the NH average
$1,110±$68Lowest
26% below NH
Amherst and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,731
14% below NH
$9,773Highest
47% above NH
$4,886Lowest
27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±23.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
31.4%±9
NH: 48.2%
38.8%±11.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
Franklin and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
NH: 72.8%
91.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
16% above NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
32 min
18% above NH
Work from home
15.8%±6.1
NH: 16.8%
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
8.3%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #42 of 120 in NH #20 of 120 in NH #112 of 120 in NH
School district Winnisquam Regional School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Franklin School District
High school in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
16.2Highest
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.