Town · New Hampshire
Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst, town, in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. Amherst had 11,985 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 11,753 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 11,861 (±30). GEOID 3301101300.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
11,985
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,753 · ACS 2020-2024: 11,861 ±30
Median household income
$153,196
±$10,209 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $99,031
Median home value
$537,600
±$29,685 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $402,500
Median gross rent
$1,462
±$256 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $1,491
Where is Amherst and what county is it in?
Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It covers 33.9 square miles of land, 347 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Amherst: Amherst (CDP, 697 in 2020).
Amherst is in the Manchester-Nashua, NH metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Amherst, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 11,985 people lived in Amherst on July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than New Hampshire (+2.7%). The 2020 Census counted 11,753 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 11,861 (±30).
| Measure | Amherst | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,861±30 | 426,378 | +528 |
| Households | 4,569±261 | 168,740 | +440 |
| Average household size | 2.60±0.15 | 2.48 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,584±263 | 177,734 | no clear change |
Amherst's population since 2000
From 10,769 in 2000 to 11,985 in 2025: up 11.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Amherst as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Amherst?
The median resident of Amherst is 45.9 years old; 22.4% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.7%. 4.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Amherst | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 | 41.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.4%±2.1 pts | 19.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.2%±2.7 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Male | 48.5%±2.3 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7%±2.0 pts | 8.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.7%±2.6 pts | 80.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.5 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8%±1.6 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.6%±1.3 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.6%±2.3 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3%±1.5 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 7.6%±1.5 pts | 11.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.9%±3.3 pts | 5.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 99.7%±0.4 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 65.7%±4.6 pts | 41.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 29.9%±4.2 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.6%±4.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.7%±3.1 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Amherst earn?
Half of Amherst's 4,569 households earn less than $153,196 a year (±$10,209), against $103,545 in Hillsborough County and $99,031 in New Hampshire. In 2015-2019 it was $171,059 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Amherst | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $153,196±$10,209 | $103,545 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $190,716±$22,511 | $132,601 | – |
| Per capita income | $74,537±$9,048 | $54,111 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.4%±4.2 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.1%±3.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 1.0%±0.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.9%±1.0 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 98.2%±1.2 pts | 93.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Amherst?
Owners occupy 91.9% of Amherst's occupied homes and renters 8.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $537,600 by its owner (±$29,685). The median renter pays $1,462 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Amherst | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $537,600±$29,685 | $421,100 | +$101,688 |
| Median gross rent | $1,462±$256 | $1,623 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 28.9%±23.7 pts | 37.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,877±$122 | $2,452 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 91.9%±4.0 pts | 67.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 8.1%±4.0 pts | 32.6% | – |
| Housing units | 4,584±263 | 177,734 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.8 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±9.0 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.7%±3.5 pts | 56.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.1%±0.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.8%±1.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.8%±4.7 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.5%±1.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Amherst building?
Builders took permits for 15 new housing units in Amherst in 2025 (15 in single-family houses), 1.3 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across New Hampshire.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Amherst work and get to work?
60.2% of Amherst's workers drive alone and 32.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.5 minutes.
| Measure | Amherst | Hillsborough County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.5%±4.9 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.5%±1.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 60.2%±5.6 pts | 70.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.6%±2.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±0.6 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 32.4%±5.4 pts | 18.1% | +19.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.5 min±5.3 | 27.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Amherst?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Amherst (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $137,042 (Tract 152) to $170,424 (Tract 151).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Amherst) · Census block assignment files
How does Amherst compare with other places in New Hampshire?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Amherst is the 1,037th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 16th-most populous of 221 in New Hampshire.
Amherst ranks 18th of 235 places in New Hampshire with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 16th | 221 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 116th | 187 |
| Residents per square mile | 91st | 241 |
| Median household income | 18th | 235 |
| Per capita income | 15th | 240 |
| Median home value | 29th | 239 |
| Median gross rent | 80th | 221 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10th | 239 |
| Median age | 120th | 239 |
| Owner-occupied share | 49th | 241 |
| Work from home | 4th | 214 |
| Travel time to work | 58th | 241 |
Amherst's figures with every place in New Hampshire (CSV)
Every place in New Hampshire, sortable · Compare Amherst with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Amherst?
17 of the 57 figures for Amherst on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Amherst are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.