Compare towns
Exeter vs Amherst 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Merrimack has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Exeter | Amherst | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
11,861Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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 | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.