What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).

Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dunstable	Merrimack
People
Population	3,408Lowest	28,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.4 7% above U.S.	41.5±2.2 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dunstable and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Merrimack and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dunstable and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S.	$127,219±$16kLowest 58% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S.	$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,020Highest 189% above U.S.	$7,345Lowest 135% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dunstable and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Merrimack and Dunstable 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	#4 of 282 in MA	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Groton-Dunstable	Merrimack School District
High school 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

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.