Compare towns
Harvard vs Hooksett vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Harvard | Hooksett | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
15,057 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Merrimack and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Harvard | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.