Compare towns
Weare vs Plaistow 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
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Weare | Plaistow | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
7,861Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Weare and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.