Compare towns
Danby vs Dorset vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Merrimack has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Danby | Dorset | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
2,092 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danby and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Merrimack and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Merrimack 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 | — | — | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.