Compare towns
Merrimack vs Bow vs Litchfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Litchfield has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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.
| Measure | Merrimack | Bow | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
8,335Lowest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.1±1.7Highest about the NH average |
| Litchfield 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$162,036±$11k 64% above NH |
| Bow and Litchfield 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 |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
| Bow and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield 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 |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Bow 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% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Lowest 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 | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Bow School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Bow High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.