Compare towns
Concord vs Merrimack vs Nashua
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Concord | Merrimack | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375 |
28,164Lowest |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
| Merrimack and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Concord and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$96,326±$5k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$403,900±$11k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,737±$41 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 8% above NH |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
$6,799Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nashua and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack and Nashua 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Merrimack School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Merrimack High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.5Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.