Hillsborough County · Merrimack Valley

Amherst

Baboosic Lake and Franklin Pierce's Wedding Village

About Amherst

Amherst was chartered in 1728 and served as the Hillsborough County seat until 1869, which is why a former courthouse still stands at the head of the village green. That green is the town's defining feature — residents in the 1800s deliberately refused to add a Victorian bandstand or fountain, preserving the open common that anchors a Fourth of July celebration, summer band concerts, and a Christmas tree lighting each year. The historic district around it holds homes dating to the 1700s, a Congregational church built as the Second Meetinghouse, and the Amherst Brick School. Schools drive much of the town's appeal: the SAU 39 district feeds into Souhegan High School, known statewide for academic rigor and a student-led governance model. Property values and household incomes run well above the state median, and the town has no real commercial center by design — residents shop in Nashua or Milford and come home to wooded lots on quiet roads. It is a place that has spent three centuries resisting change, and mostly succeeded.

Why Amherst?

Highly ranked public schools in SAU 39 including Souhegan High School
Historic village center with local shops like Dutch Epicure Bakery
Easy commute to Nashua (15 min) and Manchester (25 min)
Affluent, safe residential community with strong property values

Quick Facts

Population

11,753

County

Hillsborough

Region

Merrimack Valley

School District

SAU 39

Weather in Amherst

41°F

Clear

Today

58 / 35

Sat

59 / 34

Sun

63 / 36

Map

Living in Amherst

What you need to know about making Amherst your home.

Major Employers

OSR Open Systems ResourcesDutch Epicure BakeryTriangle Credit UnionHitchiner ManufacturingSAU 39 / Amherst School District

Schools & Education

Amherst is part of SAU 39 with Clark-Wilkins Elementary, Amherst Middle School, and Souhegan Cooperative High School, ranked 11th in NH by U.S. News.

Cost of Living

Cost of living index is about 120 (vs. 100 U.S. average), driven mainly by housing; median household income is ~$165,000.

Real Estate

$595,000 median home price

$23.98 per $1,000 property tax rate

No state income or sales tax in NH

View listings in Amherst

Commute Times

75-90 min

Boston

15 min

Nashua

25 min

Manchester

School District

Local district

Amherst School District(SAU 39)

Grades served: PreK-8

Website

Cooperative high school district

Souhegan Cooperative School District(SAU 39)

Grades served: 9-12

Website

Amherst serves as a district hub for students from nearby towns in this district.

District towns

Mont Vernon

Clark-Wilkins Elementary School

PK-4Elementary

Amherst Middle School

5-8Middle School

Souhegan High SchoolSabers

9-12High School

Parks & Public Spaces

Amherst Country ClubRecreation Area

Hidden Gems in Amherst

Beyond the well-known attractions, Amherst has spots that locals love and visitors rarely find.

Caesar's Brook Wolf Trees

year-round

This lesser-known conservation area harbors ancient white pine 'wolf trees' over 200 years old - massive specimens that grew in open fields before the forest reclaimed the land. The easy mile-long trail system includes the dedicated Wolf Tree Trail leading to one magnificent specimen, plus beautiful forest streams and small waterfalls. It's described by the town as a 'hidden gem' perfect for quiet contemplation.

Lindabury Orchard Sunset Views

fall

Perched atop Christian Hill, this 47-acre town-owned orchard offers some of the most serene sunset views in southern New Hampshire. The working orchard falls gently from the hilltop toward dense forest, with old stone walls marking the transition. Photographers prize the apple trees as portrait backdrops, and the annual Cider Festival draws locals but remains unknown to most visitors.

Hodgman State Forest Drumlin Vista

year-round

This tiny 8-acre state forest sits atop a glacial drumlin planted with red pines in 1916, rising above the Souhegan floodplain like a natural watchtower. The hilltop provides an excellent panorama westward to the Temple Range that few know exists. Access is through Cemetery Field, making it feel like a secret overlook hidden in plain sight among the headstones.