What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	Merrimack	Amherst
People
Population	28,164Highest	11,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH
	Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	65.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Merrimack and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH	$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH
	Amherst and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH	$9,773Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Highest NH: 48.2%	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Merrimack and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 120 in NH	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.