What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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	Bow
People
Population	28,164Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.2 4% below NH	41.5±2 4% below NH
Kids under 18	22%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bow 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%	17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bow 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%	60.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Bow 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	$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH	$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH
	Bow and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH	$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,345Lowest 10% above NH	$9,584Highest 44% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bow 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%	87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985 6 yrs newer than NH	1985 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bow 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	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack School District	Bow School District
High school in town	Merrimack High School	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	12.8Highest
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.