Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Exeter vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Dunbarton | Exeter | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
16,151 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack and Exeter 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.