What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).

Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

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	Atkinson
People
Population	28,164Highest	7,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%
	Atkinson and Merrimack 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	$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH
	Atkinson 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	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Highest 10% above NH	$6,918Lowest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	28 minHighest 6% above NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Atkinson and Merrimack 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	#58 of 120 in NH	#32 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
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.