What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Hampstead	Merrimack
People
Population	9,102Lowest	28,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH
	Hampstead and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Merrimack and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hampstead and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6 NH: 6%	5.1%±1.2 NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH	$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH
	Merrimack and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH	$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 30% above NH	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampstead 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 NH: 7.2%	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	21%±4.7 NH: 16.8%	21%±3.3 NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#49 of 120 in NH	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampstead School District	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

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.