What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Mapleton	Merrimack
People
Population	1,884Lowest	28,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S.	41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Mapleton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mapleton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimack and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S.	$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S.
	Merrimack and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S.	$458,600±$15kHighest 38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.	$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.	$7,345Highest 135% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimack and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 79/MSAD 01	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 History	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.