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

Telephone 673-6041
Fax (603) 673-6794
E-mail sfrydlo@amherstnh.gov
Web Site www.amherstnh.gov/

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

County Hillsborough
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Nashua Regional
Regional Development Gateway Industrial Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress
District 2
Executive Council
District 5
State Senate
District 11
State Representative
District 47
Incorporated: 1760

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.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 2,369 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Population growth in Amherst was very fast— the town ranked 15th in total percent increase and 17th in total numeric increase between 1950 and 2000. Decennial growth rates ranged from ten percent between 1980-1990 to 125 percent between 1960-1970. Amherst's population increased from 1,461 residents in 1950 to 10,769 in 2000, a total increase of 9,308 residents. The Census 2003 estimate for Amherst was 11,413 residents, which ranked 26th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2003: 324.9 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.

Villages and Place Names: Cricket Corner, Ponemah, Baboosic Lakee

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
2004 Annual Budget $7,249,780
Zoning Ordinance 1946/04
Master Plan 1998
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
Board of Selectmen; Cemetery Trustees; Library Trustees; Trustees of Trust Funds; Zoning Board
Appointed:
Planning Board; Communications Infrastructure Committee; Conservation Commission; Heritage Commission; Historic District Commission; Recreation Commission; Road Commission

Public Library Amherst Town

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time & volunteer
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer

Nearest Hospital(s):
Southern NH Regional or St. Joseph, Nashua
Distance: 14 miles Staffed Beds: 178; 135

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier KeySpan
Water Supplier Pennichuck Water Works

Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
No
Mandatory Recycling Program
Voluntary

Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
High Speed Cable Internet Service:
Business
Yes
Residential
Yes

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000) $21.99
2003 Equalization Ratio 85.4
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $18.60

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
88.6%
Commercial Land and Buildings
10.3%
Other Property including Utilities
1.1%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 3,875

2002 Single-Family Units 3,637
Building Permits Issued
50
2002 Multi-Family Units 167
Building Permits Issued
0
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 71

DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 11,413 394,663
2000 10,769 380,841
1990 9,068 336,073
1980 8,243 276,608
1970 4,605 223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
5,418 Female 5,351

Population by Age Group
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

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

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
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%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
5,032 6,152
Employed
4,757 5,892
Unemployed
275 260
Unemployment Rate
5.5% 4.2%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment
1,041 862
Average Weekly Wage
$674 $867

Service Providing Industries
Average Employment
1,863 2,834
Average Weekly Wage
$530 $666

Total Private Industry
Average Employment
2,905 3,696
Average Weekly Wage
$582 $713

Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment
400 630
Average Weekly Wage
$510 $658

Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment
3,304 4,326
Average Weekly Wage
$573 $705
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Amherst operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are part of Souhegan Cooperative (Amherst, Mont Vernon) District: SAU 39
Career Technology Center(s): Nashua, Alvirne & Milford High Schools Region: 16

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
2 1 1 2
Grade Levels
K 1-4 5-8 9-12 K-12
Total Enrollment
792 913 1,014
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 12 Total Capacity: 706
Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester; Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: St. Anselm; Rivier; Daniel Webster

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Wal-Mart Department store 200 1992
H & M Metals, Inc. Steel metal fabrication 130 1970
Diacom Corporation Fabric-elastomer diaphragms 93 1983
Nashua Redimix Ready mixed concrete 25
Resin System Corporation Custom cast thermoset plastic 52 1972
Vibrac Corporation Torque test instruments 15 1971
Rontex America, Inc. Nonwoven fabrics 23 1976

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
9,250 feet
Lighted?
Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport Manchester
Distance
14 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
14 miles
Portland, ME
110 miles
Boston, MA
48 miles
New York City, NY
241 miles
Montreal, Quebec
274 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over
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


Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
23%
Commuting to another NH community
60%
Commuting out-of-state
17%

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X Municipal Parks
O YMCA/YWCA
O Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
O Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
O Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
O Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
O Bowling Facilities
O Museums
O Cinemas
O Performing Arts Facilities
O Tourists 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
O Youth Sports: Hockey
O Campgrounds
O Fishing/Hunting
O Boating/Marinas
O Snowmobile Trails
O Bicycle Trails
O Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area

Nearest Ski Area(s): Pat's Peak

Other: Youth Lacrosse; Camps; Ponemah Bog Sanctuary; Peabody Mill Env. Center

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/18/04

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.

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