Amherst, often called "the Williamsburg of Southern New Hampshire", with its beautiful village green, lovely historic homes and stately shade trees, looks exactly like the peaceful colonial village that it is. Uncrowded, not overdeveloped, and true to its heritage of historic preservation and diligent planning, this wonderfully attractive community has handled twenty years of accelerated growth with uncommon intelligence and grace. And Amherst has great substance, too.Strict zoning, excellent schools, fine town services, superior recreational facilities,great open space, much conservation land, and an active and friendly populace add to the pleasure of living here.

The nearby cities of Nashua and Manchester provide additional benefits for shopping and business - but even if Amherst were an island standing by itself in a vast, lonely ocean, it would still be special.

Incorporated:	1760

Community Contact:	Amherst Board of Selectmen
	Robert Heaton
	PO Box 960
	Amherst, NH 03031

Telephone:	(603) 673-6041
Fax:	(603) 673-6794
E-mail:	sfrydlo@town.amherst.nh.us
Web Site:	www.town.amherst.nh.us

City/Town Office Hours:	Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4 pm; Town Clerk/Tax Collector, Monday, 9 am - 3 pm and 5:30 - 8 pm, and Tuesday through Friday, 9 am - 3 pm

County:	Hillsborough
Labor Market Area:	Nashua
Planning Commission:	Nashua Regional
Tourism Region:	Merrimack Valley

Demographics, 2000 Census: From 1990 to 2000, Amherst's population grew by 18.8 percent to 10,769, adding 1,701 residents. The median age is 38.7, with 31.7 percent of the population under the age of 18, the 8th highest among the cities and towns, and 7.3 percent age 65 and older. The total number of households is 3,590, with an average size of 3.0 persons. Of those, 3,067 are family households, with an average size of 3.26 persons. As of April 1, 2000, there were 3,752 total housing units.

Population Density, 2000: 317.4 persons per square mile of land area. Amherst contains 33.9 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.

Origin: First granted in 1728 as Narragansett Number 3, the town was named after Lord Jeffrey Amherst, commander-in-chief of the colonials in the French and Indian War. Amherst was the birthplace of Horace Greeley, founder of the New York Tribune. The town is home to Baboosic Lake.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES

City/Town Office Hours:	M-F 8-4 pm; Clerk/Tax Collector: M-F 9-3 pm, M 5:30-8 pm

Type of Government	Selectmen
Annual Budget (2003)	$6,570,877
Planning Board	Appointed
Industrial Plans Reviewed By	Planning Board
Zoning	1946/99
Master Plan	1998
Capital Improvement Plan	No
Public Library	Amherst Town

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Police Department		Full-time
Fire Department		Part-time & volunteer
Town Fire Insurance Rating		5/9
Emergency Medical Service		Part Time

Nearest Hospital(s):	Southern NH Regional; St. Joseph's		In: Nashua
	Distance: 14 miles		Beds: 173; 135

TAXES

2001 Total Tax Rate			$29.15
2001 Equalization Ratio			0.69
2001 Full Value Tax Rate			$20.05

2001 Property Valuation:	Residential	88.5%
	Commercial	9.7%
	Other	1.8%

UTILITIES

Electric Supplier	PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier	Keyspan
Water Supplier	Pennichuck Water Works

Sanitation	Private septic
Municipal Treatment Plant	No
Curbside Trash Pickup	No
Mandatory Recycling Program	No

Telephone Company	Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access	Yes
Cable Television Access	Yes

HOUSING, 2000

Total Housing Units		3,752

Single-Family Units		3,389
	Building Permits Issued	70
Multi-Family Units		295
	Building Permits Issued	0
Manufactured Housing Units		68

Median Value, Owner-Occupied Housing		$207,800
Median Gross Rent (monthly)		$1,034

DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census)

Total Population		Community			County
2000		10,769			380,841
1990		9,068			336,073
1980		8,243			276,608
1970		4,605			223,941

Population by Gender, 2000
	Male: 5,418		Female: 5,351

Population by Age Group, 2000
	Under age 5		664
	Age 5 to 19		2,996
	Age 20 to 34		1,057
	Age 35 to 54		4,150
	Age 55 to 64		1,118
	Age 65 and over		784

Median Age			38.7 years

Total Households: 3,571				Average Size: 3.00 persons
Total Families: 3,057				Average Size: 3.26 persons

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
	High school graduate or higher					96.2%
	Bachelor's degree or higher					55.6%

ANNUAL INCOME, 2000 (US Census)

Per capita income			$35,531
Median 4-person family income			$97,913
Median household income			$89,384

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
	Male	$73,432
	Female	$35,250

Families below the poverty level			1.0%

TRANSPORTATION

Road Access		Federal Routes
		State Routes		13, 101, 101A, 122

Nearest Interstate, Exit			I-293, Exit 8
	Distance		14 miles

Railroad			Boston & Maine
Public Transportation			No

Nearest Airport			Manchester
	Runway		7,573 feet
	Lighted?		Yes
	Navigational Aids?		Yes

Nearest Commercial Airport			Manchester
	Distance		14 miles

DISTANCE TO

Manchester, NH	14 miles
Portland, ME	110 miles
Boston, MA	48 miles
New York City, NY	241 miles
Montreal, Quebec	274 miles

LARGEST EMPLOYERS	PRODUCT/SERVICE	EMPLOYEES	ESTABLISHED
Wal-Mart	Department store	200	1992
H & M Metals, Inc.	Steel metal fabrication	169	1970
Diacom Corporation	Fabric-elastomer diaphragms	82	1983
Quinn Brothers Corporation	Precast items	40	1972
Resin System Corporation	Custom cast thermoset plastic	40	1972
Vibrac Corporation	Torque test instruments	15	1971
Rontex America, Inc.	Nonwoven fabrics	11	1976

LABOR FORCE

Annual Average	1990	2001
Civilian labor force	5,328	5,902
Employed	5,157	5,699
Unemployed	171	203
Unemployment rate	3.2%	3.4%

COMMUTING TO WORK, 2000

Workers 16 years and over	(US Census)
Drove alone, car/truck/van	82.5%
Carpooled, car/truck/van	7.1%
Public transportation	0.5%
Walked	0.3%
Other means	1.1%
Worked at home	8.6%

Mean Travel Time to Work	29.3 minutes

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES

		1991	2000
Manufacturing Industries
	Average Employment	899	938
	Average Weekly Wage	$633	$913

Non-Manufacturing Industries
	Average Employment	1,630	3,264
	Average Weekly Wage	$485	$723

Total Private Industry
	Average Employment	2,529	4,202
	Average Weekly Wage	$537	$765

Government
	Average Employment	276	497
	Average Weekly Wage	$491	$657

Total, Private plus Government
	Average Employment	2,805	4,698
	Average Weekly Wage	$533	$754

n = indicates that data does not meet disclosure standards

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

	Municipal Parks
	YMCA/YWCA
	Boys Club/Girls Club
X	Golf Courses
	Swimming: Indoor Facility
X	Swimming: Outdoor Facility
	Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X	Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
	Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
	Bowling Facilities
	Museums
	Cinemas
	Performing Arts Facilities
	Tourist Attractions
X	Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X	Youth Sports: Baseball
X	Youth Sports: Soccer
X	Youth Sports: Football
X	Youth Sports: Basketball
	Youth Sports: Hockey
	Campgrounds
	Fishing/Hunting
	Boating/Marinas
	Snowmobile Trails
X	Bicycle Trails
	Cross Country Skiing

	Nearest Ski Area(s): Pat's Peak

	Other: Camps

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.