Compare towns
Merrimack vs Bow vs Nashua
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 homeowners (88.9%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164 |
8,335Lowest |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest 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% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Nashua 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest 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±$16k 28% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,737±$41 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 10% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,799Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nashua and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest 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 | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Bow School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Bow High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.