Compare towns
Litchfield vs Williston 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
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Litchfield | Williston | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,499Lowest |
10,144 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 101% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147 37% above U.S. |
| Litchfield and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273Highest 165% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.