Compare towns
Londonderry vs Merrimack vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Londonderry has the oldest population (median age 42.7).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Londonderry | Merrimack | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,685 |
28,164Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±0.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Londonderry and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Merrimack and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,556±$14k 34% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $505,200±$20k 26% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$154 21% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Merrimack and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,069 21% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±7.8 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Londonderry School District | Merrimack School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Londonderry Senior High School | Merrimack High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
12.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.