What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).

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	Groton	Merrimack
People
Population	11,390Lowest	28,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	41.5±2.2Highest 7% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Groton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Groton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Groton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S.	$127,219±$16kLowest 58% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S.	$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$7,345Lowest 135% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Groton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Groton 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	#39 of 282 in MA	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Groton-Dunstable	Merrimack School District
High school in town	Groton Dunstable Regional	Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	12.5Lowest
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.