What stands out worked out from the figures below

Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Bedford
People
Population	28,164Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH	45±2.2Highest 4% above NH
	Bedford 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%	22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bedford 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%	20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bedford 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%	63%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Merrimack and Bedford 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	$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH	$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Lowest 30% above NH	$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH
	Bedford and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH	$9,803Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bedford 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%	2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	25 minLowest 5% below NH
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bedford 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	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Bedford School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.5Highest
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.