Compare towns
Litchfield vs Hudson vs Merrimack vs East Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
East Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23.3%).
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 | Litchfield | Hudson | Merrimack | East Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,499 |
25,557 |
28,164Highest |
5,081Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+23.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
41.1±6.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hudson and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
13.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| East Merrimack and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$87,311±$5kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$291,500±$30kLowest 28% below NH |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,735±$123Lowest 16% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$1,952±$158 31% above NH |
| Litchfield and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273Highest 24% above NH |
$6,636 about the NH average |
$7,345 10% above NH |
$4,652Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
33.2%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.2%±5.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| East Merrimack and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Hudson School District | Merrimack School District | — |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Alvirne High School | Merrimack High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.6 |
12.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.